NTSB Recovers Both Black Boxes from Deadly Air Canada-LaGuardia Crash — More Answers Expected Tuesday

New York, March 24, 2026 — Investigators have successfully retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the wrecked Air Canada Express jet that collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of passengers.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy confirmed the critical “black boxes” were recovered Monday by cutting a hole in the roof of the heavily damaged CRJ-900 aircraft. The devices were immediately driven back to NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., for urgent analysis.

usatoday.com

LaGuardia Air Canada crash shuts down busy airport

The mangled Air Canada Express jet rests on the LaGuardia runway after the violent collision with the fire truck.

Homendy described a chaotic and debris-strewn scene on the tarmac, cautioning that the full investigation will take considerable time.

“We have questions on everything right now,” she told reporters, adding that the team completed a safety walkthrough of the wreckage before accessing the recorders.

thestar.com

Air Canada crash at LaGuardia updates: 2 pilots killed, 41 injured

Wreckage of the Port Authority fire truck lies destroyed beside the runway, surrounded by scattered debris.

One of the two pilots killed in the crash has been identified as Antoine Forest, a Canadian pilot from Quebec. The identity of the second pilot has not yet been publicly released.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight Sunday when Air Canada Express Flight 8646, operating from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members, struck the fire truck on the runway. The emergency vehicle was responding to a separate odor complaint on a United Airlines flight.

Chilling video footage captured the moment of impact, showing the jet slamming into the truck and sending debris flying across the wet runway.

ctvnews.ca

LaGuardia Air Canada crash: Video captures collision

Dramatic side-by-side images show the severely damaged Air Canada jet and the crushed fire truck at the crash site.

Homendy noted that the cockpit voice recorder appears undamaged, raising hopes that it will provide clear audio of the final moments in the cockpit. Work on the flight data recorder is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

She also revealed that a partial government shutdown caused significant delays for the NTSB team. One specialist was stuck in a lengthy TSA security line for hours while trying to reach New York, slowing the initial response.

youtube.com

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speaking at Baltimore bridge collapse conference

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy addresses the media during the ongoing LaGuardia crash investigation.

Despite the challenges, Homendy said investigators are moving as quickly as possible. She expects to release more detailed information on Tuesday, including potential early findings from the recorders and additional details about the sequence of events.

The crash has left the aviation community stunned. Passengers described hearing a sudden loud impact and feeling the plane lurch violently. Many were transported to hospitals, with at least 41 people receiving medical attention. Several remain hospitalized.

usatoday.com

LaGuardia Air Canada crash shuts down busy airport

Emergency vehicles surround the broken Air Canada jet on the rain-slicked LaGuardia tarmac as investigators begin their work.

LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest in the New York area, was shut down for several hours following the collision but has since reopened. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled, adding to travel chaos already worsened by the government shutdown.

nbaa.org

Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) / Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) | NBAA – National Business Aviation Association

Flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) — the two “black boxes” critical to understanding what happened in the final moments.

The NTSB has launched multiple investigative groups, including teams focused on air traffic control, the cockpit recorders, and operations. They have not ruled out any possibilities, including potential issues with runway coordination or controller workload during the overnight shift.

bbc.com

Like the plane got cut in half’: Eyewitnesses describe chaos of LaGuardia crash

NTSB investigators walk the crash scene, examining the tail section of the Air Canada jet marked with the iconic red maple leaf.

This marks the first fatal accident at LaGuardia in more than 30 years, heightening scrutiny on runway safety and emergency vehicle movements at busy U.S. airports.

As the black boxes arrive in Washington, families of the deceased pilots, passengers, and injured crew await answers. Homendy emphasized that the NTSB’s priority is determining exactly what went wrong — and preventing it from happening again.

More updates are expected Tuesday as analysis begins and the full picture of this tragic runway collision starts to emerge.