Unions mourn pilots killed in LaGuardia runway collision

Two pilots aboard an Air Canada regional flight were killed late Sunday night after their plane collided with a Port Authority emergency vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, officials said, prompting a shutdown of the airport as investigators began piecing together what happened.

LaGuardia remained closed into Monday morning while the Port Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board examined the scene. The airport was closed until about 2 p.m., compounding delays for travelers already facing long security lines tied to staffing shortages during the partial federal government shutdown.

Capt. Jason Ambrosi president of the Air Line Pilots Association, called the deaths of the two pilots “a profound tragedy,” noting they had dedicated their careers to safely transporting passengers. He said the union had deployed its accident investigation team to assist the NTSB and activated its critical incident response program to support members and families.

Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by regional carrier Jazz Aviation as Air Canada Express, was arriving from Montreal when it struck a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle around 11:40 p.m. on Runway 4. The vehicle, driven by sergeant Michael Orsillo and officer Adrian Baez, had been dispatched to assist a United Airlines aircraft whose pilot had reported an unusual cabin odor after multiple failed takeoff attempts.

According to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia, the plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. In total, 41 people from the flight and both officers were taken to nearby hospitals. Garcia said at a press conference the collision occurred during landing, adding that most of those hospitalized had since been released.

Audio from LaGuardia’s air traffic control tower, released by LiveATC.net, captured the moments before the crash. A controller appeared to clear the emergency vehicle to cross Runway 4 before reversing the instruction seconds later, repeatedly ordering the truck to stop.

“Stop, stop, stop!” the controller can be heard saying, followed by, “I messed up.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it was “deeply saddened” by the crash but declined further comment, citing its role in the NTSB investigation.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the incident and that the city was coordinating with federal, state and local partners. “I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives,” he wrote on X.

Frank Conti, president of the Port Authority PBA, expressed condolences to the families of the pilots in a statement. “We are extremely grateful that the injuries to the Port Authority police officers are not life threatening and look forward to their complete recoveries,” he added.

Aviation labor unions also issued statements of condolence. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said its “hearts are with the crew and passengers” and expressed solidarity with members of the Air Line Pilots Association.

The crash occurred amid broader strain on the nation’s aviation workforce during the partial government shutdown. Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration workers have left their posts or called out, leaving thousands working without pay and contributing to long security lines nationwide. In response, federal officials have deployed ICE agents to assist at some airports.

32BJ SEIU, which represents many airport workers, used the moment to highlight what it described as a widening safety crisis. Union president Manny Pastreich criticized the use of ICE agents in airports, saying in a statement it “makes all of us less safe” and disrupts air travel, while calling on Congress to restore full TSA funding.

“Our thoughts are also with the essential airport workers who are on the frontlines every day,” Pastreich said.