Massive Debris Field Discovered in Air Canada Crash — Black Box Now Reveals Final Moments

This liveblog is now closed. For updates to this story Tuesday, March 24, please tap here.

Minute by minute: A timeline of how the crash unfolded

The fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night unfolded over a matter of minutes.

Officials are still working to determine how a rescue vehicle came to be in the path of a landing aircraft at one of the country’s busiest airports.

NTSB not ready to share details about air traffic control staffing

Asked whether she could share details about air traffic control staffing, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said they are not yet ready to release that information.

“Not at this time,” she said.

“Do we have information? Yes, but we need to verify that information before we provide it. It’s just preliminary information, and we aren’t able to provide it, yet, we still have to do it.”

She said investigators must corroborate details through multiple sources before making them public.

“There are sign-in sheets. We have to do interviews. We have to look at time cards. There’s a lot of information … and then official records from the airline. So that is information we always have to corroborate.”

6:50 p.m.

‘Tremendous amount of debris’: NTSB details first day of investigation

Investigators have recovered key flight recorders and begun examining evidence from the LaGuardia runway collision, the chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said, as she outlined what teams were able to accomplish on their first day on site.

In the evening update, Jennifer Homendy said teams carried out a walking inspection of the crash site, where debris was spread widely across the airfield.

“There is a tremendous, tremendous amount of debris from Taxiway Delta across Runway 4 into some other areas. It’s pretty expansive,” she said, adding that safety checks were needed before investigators could begin detailed work.

Homendy said emergency crews had to cut into the aircraft to retrieve the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder after the tail section came to rest on the ground.

Investigators are also collecting information on air traffic control operations, including staffing, communications and training, as well as details about the fire and rescue vehicle involved, she said.

“We’re looking for information today from the fire and rescue department on their crew and on their vehicles, what the capabilities were of their vehicles, and everything from how much they weighed to what they were carrying,” she said.

“My hope is that we’ll have information to share on that tomorrow in a press conference.”

6:40 p.m.

NTSB chair: It’s been a big challenge to get the entire team here

The investigation into the deadly runway collision at LaGuardia is still in its early stages, with many investigators delayed getting to the scene, the chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said Monday evening.

“We have not had a full day of investigation here today,” Jennifer Homendy told reporters, warning that answers will take time.

She said members of the team only began arriving at around 3:10 a.m., and others are still en route after widespread disruption.

This included airport shutdowns, a ground stop at Newark and long security lines.

In one case, she said, an NTSB specialist was stuck in a TSA queue for three hours before officials intervened to get her through so she could reach the site.

Around 25 specialists are expected to work at the crash scene, alongside additional staff supporting the investigation, Homendy said. Doug Brazy has been named investigator in charge, she added.

Homendy also acknowledged growing questions about how the crash unfolded, including air traffic control communications and how a vehicle came to be on the runway.

“I understand there are a lot of questions,” she said.

5:36 p.m.

How did it happen, and what comes next?

Investigators at LaGuardia Airport in New York on March 23, 2026, after a fatal plane crash the night before involving an Air Canada flight and an airport fire engine on the runway as the plane was landing that left the pilot and co-pilot dead along with several other severe injuries. Dakota Santiago /The New York Times
“Somebody made a mistake,” said John Gradek, faculty lecturer in aviation and supply networks at McGill University. “But it’s much too early in the game to (place) blame at this point in time.”

The fire truck had been responding to an incident at the time of the crash, according to LaGuardia. Gradek said emergency vehicles move around airports frequently, “and they use roadways, taxiways, runways to get from one side … to the other.” Different types of air traffic controllers manage movement within the area.

Read more: How did the Air Canada crash at New York’s LaGuardia Airport happen, and what comes next?

5.05 p.m.

Condolences pour in for pilot Antoine Forest

There has been an outpouring of condolences on social media for Antoine Forest, with dozens of posts on Facebook and X after it was confirmed the 30-year-old was one of the pilots who died in the collision.

Forest, who was from Coteau-du-Lac, was identified earlier by The Gazette.

In a post on Facebook, the City of Coteau-du-Lac said: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Antoine Forest, a native of Coteau-du-Lac.

“The City of Coteau-du-Lac and the members of the city council wish to offer their deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and friends. We wish them all the comfort they need to get through this difficult time.”

Earlier, friend and former colleague Alexandre Circé told The Gazette that Forest was drawn to flying as “one of the last true adventurer’s professions.”

“He was very interested in mechanics and how things work, so aviation suited him perfectly,” he said.

“This is a tremendous loss for his family and loved ones, but also for anyone who might have crossed paths with him in the future,” Circé added.

4:30 p.m.

Alternate angle reveals full extent of crash damage

A photo of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 shared by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shows the full extent of the crash damage Sean Duffy via X

4:10 p.m.

Montreal mayor addresses tragedy

“It’s a terrible accident. I can only imagine what the passengers went through,” said Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

“My thoughts are with the families of the two people who died, the pilot and the co-pilot. I’m eager to see the followup and analysis, and how it will be investigated to, of course, prevent tragic accidents like this one from happening again.”

3:45 p.m.

Flight attendant survives being ejected from plane

Flight attendant Solange Tremblay survived being ejected from AC8646 when it crashed.
The crash sent flight attendant Solange Tremblay flying out of the aircraft, her daughter, Sarah Lépine, told The Gazette in a text exchange. “It’s a miracle that my mother is alive,” Lépine said.

Tremblay landed around 100 metres from the plane, Lépine said, while still attached to her seat. The flight attendant broke her leg in multiple spots, her daughter said, and will require surgery. “This morning she was in pain, of course,” Lépine said, but was able to hold a normal conversation.