Air Canada crash: Viral video shows pilots’ final heroic moments as last-second braking saves dozens; runway lapse under investigation

A regional passenger jet collided with an emergency vehicle on a runway at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens, as investigators examine air traffic control communication and runway procedures that may have led to the crash.

According to NBC news website, Air Canada Flight 8646, arriving from Montreal, collided with a fire and rescue vehicle on Runway 4 at around 11:45 pm. The truck had been dispatched by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to respond to a United Airlines aircraft after crew members reported a strong odor inside the cabin, according to officials and air traffic control audio.

Air traffic control recordings suggest the vehicle was initially cleared to cross the runway before being abruptly instructed to stop. Moments later, the aircraft collided with the truck. In audio captured after the impact, a controller can be heard saying, “I messed up.”


The impact sheared off the aircraft’s nose, scattering wreckage across the runway. Officials said around 40 passengers and two occupants of the emergency vehicle were injured, the majority sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.

Final moments before impact

Video footage of the crash, supported by air traffic control audio, captures the final approach as the aircraft descends toward the runway while an emergency vehicle moves into its path. The sequence points to a critical lapse in timing and coordination, with the truck entering the active runway during the jet’s landing phase.

The impact unfolds within seconds, showing the sudden and violent nature of the collision. Investigators are expected to rely heavily on the footage and radio transmissions to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether miscommunication or procedural failures led to the crash.

The act of bravery

The two pilots were killed in the crash, but are being credited with actions that helped prevent a far greater loss of life. Survivors said the crew attempted to brake and slow the aircraft in the final seconds before impact, reducing the force of the collision.

Passenger Rebecca Liquori said the pilots’ quick response was critical. “I wouldn’t be here had it not been for the pilot acting quickly,” she said, adding that while she was grateful to be alive, she was saddened they did not survive.

Another passenger, Joseph, who sustained minor injuries while travelling with his fiancée, said the pilots did everything possible in the final moments. “They did everything in their power to stop the plane and slow it down at the very last minute,” he said, calling them “heroes.”

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford also paid tribute, describing the deaths as “an absolute tragedy” and noting the pilots were early in their careers.