Posted on 03/23/2026 3:39:43 PM PDT by TexasKamaAina
Captain Steeeve breaks down the tragic runway collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and an airport fire vehicle.
Late Sunday night, an arriving regional jet collided with a fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway — with ATC audio capturing last-second calls to stop just moments before impact. The result was catastrophic, claiming the lives of both pilots and injuring dozens more.
In this episode, Captain Steeeve walks through what we know so far, including the sequence of events, how runway incursions happen, and the multiple layers of safety that are designed to prevent exactly this kind of accident.
He also explains the critical role of air traffic control, ground vehicle coordination, and situational awareness — and how even small breakdowns can align into a devastating outcome.
As always, our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragic accident and their families and friends who are grieving during this difficult time.
One of the YouTube viewers made this comment:You failed to mention that the reason the firetruck was out there in the first place was that it was responding to another airliner that had declared a ground emergency. So you had ONE controller dealing with an ongoing emergency , coordinating ground traffic , coordinating takeoffs , coordinating landings and dealing with an emergency. All on an IFR night.
Air Canada flight attendant on LaGuardia plane was strapped to jump seat and ejected during deadly crash
LaGuardia air traffic controller slammed as ‘brain dead’ for avoidable Air Canada crash: ‘Not doing their job’
https://nypost.com/2026/03/23/us-news/deadly-laguardia-airport-crash-was-avoidable-expert-says/
Harrowing video captures deadly LaGuardia Airport crash as plane collides with fire truck
It’s becoming more apparent that runways have to be designed with tunnels is going underneath them for ground vehicle traffic.
He makes it sound like having ground vehicles and aircraft on the same radio frequency would help but at a busy airport the increased radio traffic might well create more frequent problems.
I had a pilot friend flying Frontier who was in the pattern at the time - I wonder if a DEI was the tower guy.
One wonders... What was the nationality of the fire truck driver?
The Air Traffic Controller did say ‘stop’... Did he not?
They hand out driver licenses like candy and the video clearly shows the fire truck plowing right into the plane.
Stop means stop!
“The Air Traffic Controller did say ‘stop’... Did he not?”
After the truck entered the runway ...
“They hand out driver licenses like candy and the video clearly shows the fire truck plowing right into the plane.”
It clearly shows the plane plowing right into the fire truck.
From what I have read LaGuardia had one controller working both ground traffic and arrivals. If an airport is that understaffed you either close or perhaps bring in some military controllers.
???
Not saying anything about fault since the pilot of the plane "owns" the entire runway once cleared, but the nose of the plane struck the side of the truck, tipping it over on its side and sliding it sideways. The fire truck driver didn't "plow into" the plane, he or she cut it off. It looks like the fire truck tried to turn out of the way but it was too late.
The front of the truck is relatively undamaged.
Juan Browne (blancolirio YT channel) said it is a common procedure for ATC to work both ground and arrivals at these big airports during the late evenings.
Last night was very bad weather in NY State.
I live about 200 miles from NYC. Our daughter left for her home in another state at about 8PM. She’s in her mid 20’s, a good driver, but inclined to be somewhat headstrong once she fixes on a plan of action.
To my amazement, she turned around and came back, about a half-hour out. She said she couldn’t see the road even 10 feet in front of the car.
It was heavy ground fog conditions all over the state, with light to medium rainfall.
Jets can’t stop on dime... The fire truck driver was told to stop... He didn’t and he was on the runway when he shouldn’t have been there.
Thanks, but he didn’t make any sense.
Is there any video of the collision anywhere?
The obvious question is why the truck driver drove in to the jet. Is he blind?
What are the circumstances that makes my question the wrong question to ask, if any?
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