Michael Rousseau, president and CEO of Air Canada, said on Tuesday he was deeply saddened by the accident involving Air Canada Express flight AC8646. In a video message, he said the airline’s immediate efforts are focused on supporting the passengers, crew and their families.
The runway accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Monday involved an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a fire truck. Two pilots were killed, dozens of passengers were injured, and the disruption led to hundreds of flight cancellations at the start of the workweek amid broader operational strains tied to a weeks-long budget standoff in Congress.
“This is a very sombre day at Air Canada,” Rousseau said, noting the flight was operated by Jazz Aviation LP on behalf of Air Canada. He said the airline is concentrating on the needs of those affected and their loved ones and acknowledged that many questions remain while authorities continue to assess the circumstances.
Rousseau confirmed that the captain and the first officer died in the accident and offered condolences to the families and the Jazz community. He said Air Canada is working with authorities to verify the number of injuries and to determine whether there were any other fatalities.
The flight, AC8646, had originated in Montreal and was carrying approximately 72 passengers and four crew members — 76 people in total, pending final confirmation. The incident occurred at about 11:30 pm local time.
Air Canada has activated its Special Assistance Team to support customers and relatives. Rousseau said specialized team members will be sent to New York, and the airline is fully supporting investigative authorities as they work to determine what happened.
He urged those seeking information about passengers to call a dedicated helpline at 1-800-961-7099 and said verified updates will be posted on aircanada.com and Air Canada’s official social media channels. Rousseau said the airline’s trained teams are working around the clock to assist customers, crew and families and that more information will be released as it is cleared by investigators.
Air Canada also shared the CEO’s video statement on its Twitter account, where the message and a clip were posted on March 23, 2026.
