An Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz Aviation was involved in a fatal accident upon landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night.
According to a statement from Air Canada, Flight AC8646, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900 aircraft, had departed from Montréal and was attempting to land at approximately 11:30 pm on March 22 when the incident occurred.
Preliminary information indicates the aircraft was carrying about 72 passengers and four crew members, though the exact number is yet to be confirmed.
Pilot, First Officer Confirmed Dead
Authorities have confirmed that both the pilot and first officer died in the crash. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported the fatalities, prompting an outpouring of condolences from Air Canada and Jazz Aviation.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees,” the airline said in a statement, extending sympathies to the victims’ families and the broader aviation community.
Injuries Reported, Emergency Response Ongoing
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, attending to injured passengers. Several individuals have since been transported to nearby hospitals, although the airline has not confirmed the number or severity of injuries.
Air Canada said it is still working to verify whether there are additional fatalities.
Investigations Underway
Both Air Canada and Jazz Aviation have confirmed they are cooperating fully with investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the United States National Transportation Safety Board.
Teams from the airlines are also being dispatched to the crash site as part of the response effort.
More Updates Expected
The airline says further details remain limited at this stage but has pledged to provide regular updates as more information becomes available.
