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CRJ900

NTSB Cites Runway Safety System Failed To Alert Before Deadly LaGuardia Collision SEO DES: The NTSB said the system missed the fire truck, which lacked a transponder, amid complex runway traffic with two controllers on duty during the incident SOCIAL: A critical runway safety alert system at LaGuardia Airport failed to warn air traffic controllers before an Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire-rescue vehicle on March 22, killing both pilots and injuring at least 41 others. The NTSB reported the system did not detect the fire truck because it lacked a transponder, preventing a warning. The crash occurred amid complex runway traffic, and two controllers were on duty at the time, consistent with standard procedures. Investigators are reviewing air traffic control workload, emergency procedures, and cockpit communications to determine contributing factors, emphasizing that multiple causes are under examination. New York, United States: A critical runway safety alert system at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) failed to issue a warning before an Air Canada Express jet struck a Port Authority fire‑rescue vehicle on the runway late Sunday night, federal investigators confirmed Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the absence of an alert is a central focus of its ongoing probe into the crash that killed both pilots and injured dozens of passengers and crew. The March 22 collision involved Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ‑900 arriving from Montréal with 76 people aboard. The aircraft was landing when it collided at high speed with an airport rescue‑and‑firefighting vehicle responding to another incident at the busy New York City airport. Two pilots were killed and at least 41 people were hurt in the impact. In a press briefing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the runway surveillance system at LGA designed to track ground movements of aircraft and vehicles“did not alert” air traffic controllers before the collision. Homendy explained that the failure stemmed from the fire truck’s lack of a transponder, a device that broadcasts its position to radar and ground detection systems. Without that signal, the alert system was unable to generate a confident track of the vehicle’s movements and therefore did not issue a warning of the imminent danger. NTSB officials noted that the crash occurred amid complex surface movements near the runway, with vehicles merging and un‑merging, which further complicated the system’s ability to create a reliable track. Even though the physical safety system was functioning, its inability to detect the non‑transponder‑equipped truck prevented an alert that might have given controllers and flight crews crucial extra seconds to respond. Homendy also confirmed there were two controllers in the LGA air traffic control tower at the time of the accident the local controller and the controller in charge which she said is consistent with standard operating procedures for the airport’s midnight shift. The NTSB is reviewing whether controller workload, shift changes, and the emergency duties being handled at the time played any role in the decision to authorize the fire truck’s runway crossing just seconds before the jet touched down. Officials are examining cockpit voice recordings and communications to better understand how the sequence unfolded. Homendy stressed that NTSB rarely finds a single cause in accidents of this scale, saying investigators are examining “many, many things” and that any conclusions are preliminary.

NTSB Cites Runway Safety System Failed To Alert Before Deadly LaGuardia Collision

Aviation Today News Desk / March 26, 2026

New York, United States: A critical runway safety alert system at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) failed to issue a warning before […]

American Eagle Flight Returns To Raleigh-Durham Airport After Smoke Alert Mid-Air SEO DES: Passengers evacuated with no injuries, American Airlines cited a “reported odor”; aircraft grounded for inspection, cause still under investigation SOCIAL: An American Eagle CRJ-900 flight returned to Raleigh-Durham International Airport shortly after takeoff due to reported smoke and a burning odor in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely within 23 minutes, with emergency services on standby. Passengers were evacuated and no injuries were reported. American Airlines said the diversion was due to a “reported odor,” and the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection, with the exact cause yet to be determined. Image: Quintin Soloviev (Wikimedia) Video: American Airlines Morrisville, United States: An American Eagle regional flight was forced to return to Raleigh-Durham International Airport shortly after takeoff on Monday night after pilots reported smoke and a burning odor inside the aircraft cabin, prompting an emergency response. American Eagle Flight 5201, operated by a Bombardier CRJ-900, departed Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) at approximately 8:13 p.m. en route to Philadelphia. Within minutes of departure, the flight crew detected what was described as smoke accompanied by a burning smell inside the cabin, triggering standard emergency procedures. Following the detection, pilots elected to discontinue the climb and remain in the vicinity of the airport while preparing for a safe return. Flight tracking and local reports indicate the aircraft maneuvered over northern Wake County, executing turns over Falls Lake and later looping near Jordan Lake to align for landing. The aircraft landed safely at RDU approximately 23 minutes after departure under emergency conditions. Emergency services, including fire crews and EMS units, were positioned on standby as the aircraft touched down. Visuals from the airport showed the aircraft surrounded by emergency vehicles shortly after landing. Passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac and transported to the terminal by buses. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. American Airlines confirmed that the flight returned to RDU due to a “reported odor” onboard, a term commonly used in aviation when the exact source of smoke or fumes has not yet been identified. The aircraft was subsequently taken out of service for a detailed inspection by maintenance teams. “All passengers made it safely to the terminal, and we are working to assist them with their travel plans,” the airline said, apologizing for the disruption and commending the crew’s handling of the situation. As of now, no confirmed cause of the smoke or odor has been officially released.

American Eagle Flight Returns To Raleigh-Durham Airport After Smoke Alert Mid-Air

Aviation Today News Desk / March 24, 2026

Morrisville, United States: An American Eagle regional flight was forced to return to Raleigh-Durham International Airport shortly after takeoff on

Air Canada Express Flight Hits Fire Truck At LaGuardia, 2 Pilots Killed And 41 Injured SEO DES: Aircraft with 76 onboard reportedly hit an ARFF vehicle on Runway 4 despite ATC warnings, overturning the truck and heavily damaging the nose SOCIAL: A tragic runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport killed two pilots and injured 41 people after an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 (Jazz Aviation) struck a fire truck during landing. The aircraft, arriving from Montréal with 76 people onboard, hit the ARFF vehicle on Runway 4 despite last-minute air traffic control warnings. The impact overturned the fire truck and heavily damaged the aircraft’s nose section. Authorities said 32 injured were discharged and 9 remain hospitalized, while the fire crew sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The FAA closed the airport and the NTSB has launched an investigation into runway coordination and communication failures. New York, United States: A tragic runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport killed two pilots and injured 41 people after an Air Canada Express regional jet struck a firefighting vehicle during landing late Sunday night, authorities said. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900LR operated by Jazz Aviation under Air Canada Express Flight 8646, was arriving from Montréal Trudeau International Airport with 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board, according to airport officials and preliminary aviation data. The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by its regional partner Jazz Aviation, was carrying 76 onboard from Montreal, Canada, said Kathryn Garcia, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Jazz is owned by Chorus Aviation. Garcia said 32 of the 41 injured had been released, while nine remained in hospital with "serious injuries." Those injured included passengers, crew members and the two officers aboard the fire ⁠truck; both officers remained hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries The incident occurred at approximately 11:37–11:40 p.m. ET on March 22, when the aircraft was in its landing rollout on Runway 4. At the same time, a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) truck entered the active runway while responding to a separate emergency involving another aircraft on the ground. According to preliminary air traffic control information, the fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway, but controllers issued urgent stop instructions moments before the collision. Despite the warning, the aircraft struck the vehicle at an estimated speed of about 39 km/h (24 mph). The impact caused severe destruction to the aircraft’s nose section and cockpit, resulting in the immediate deaths of both the captain and first officer. The fire truck overturned following the collision, with two firefighters on board sustaining injuries. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides and ground assistance as emergency crews rushed to the scene. LaGuardia Airport was immediately shut down following the accident, with the Federal Aviation Administration imposing a full ground stop. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a formal investigation, focusing on runway incursion procedures, coordination between air traffic control and ground vehicles, and timing of emergency clearance instructions. The FAA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are also assisting in the probe. Preliminary reports indicate that the firefighting vehicle was responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines aircraft reporting a technical issue on the ground. The complexity of simultaneous runway operations is now a key focus of investigators.

Air Canada Express Flight Hits Fire Truck At LaGuardia, 2 Pilots Killed And 41 Injured

Aviation Today News Desk / March 23, 2026

New York, United States: A tragic runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport killed two pilots and injured 41 people

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