Air Canada president and CEO Michael Rousseau said Tuesday he is deeply saddened by the runway accident involving Air Canada Express flight AC8646 and that the airline’s immediate priority is supporting passengers, crew and their families.
In a video message, Rousseau said the airline is focused on assisting those affected while investigators work to determine exactly what happened. He noted the flight was operated by Jazz Aviation LP on behalf of Air Canada.
The late-night accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport involved an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a fire truck. Two pilots — the captain and first officer — were confirmed dead, and dozens of passengers sustained injuries. The incident triggered major disruption, prompting hundreds of cancellations at the start of the workweek amid broader operational strain linked to a weeks-long budget standoff in Congress.
Rousseau offered condolences to the families of the crew members and to the Jazz community. He said Air Canada is working closely with authorities to verify the total number of injuries and to determine whether there were any additional fatalities.
Flight AC8646 originated in Montreal and was carrying about 72 passengers and four crew members — roughly 76 people in all, pending final confirmation. The accident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. local time.
Air Canada has activated its Special Assistance Team and will send specialized personnel to New York to help customers, relatives and staff. Rousseau said the airline is fully cooperating with investigative authorities and will provide information once it is cleared by investigators.
He urged anyone seeking information about passengers to call the dedicated helpline at 1-800-961-7099. Verified updates will be posted on aircanada.com and Air Canada’s official social media channels.
The CEO’s video message and a clip were shared by Air Canada on Twitter on March 23, 2026. Rousseau said the airline’s trained teams are working around the clock to support passengers, crew and families, and that further details will be released as they become available.
