From takeoff to ‘I messed up’: Timeline spells out what went wrong in the deadly LaGuardia Airport plane crash

Harrowing audio from the air traffic control tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport revealed how a controller tried to stop the fatal collision that claimed the lives of two people and closed one of the nation’s busiest airports.

The Air Canada Express flight from Montreal carrying 76 passengers crashed into a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at the Queens airport late Sunday. The pilot and co-pilot were both killed when the plane collided with the truck, which was on the runway responding to a separate emergency.

Panicked dispatchers were heard on air traffic control audio desperately trying to avert disaster. It is part of the hours-long saga that is the first major commerical aircraft disaster in America in 2026.

A voice over the transmission was heard telling a truck to “Stop, stop, stop!” before it was too late.

“That wasn’t good to watch,” a voice was heard saying over the radio.

“I messed up,” another person said.

Harrowing audio from the air traffic control tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport revealed how a controller tried to stop the fatal collision (AFP via Getty Images)

Harrowing audio from the air traffic control tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport revealed how a controller tried to stop the fatal collision (AFP via Getty Images)

The deadly crash comes as U.S. airports are already in chaos due to a partial government shutdown, which has caused hours-long delays at security checkpoints.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security has lapsed and Transportation Security Administration officers are not being paid until Congress reaches a deal.

Air traffic controllers are not directly affected by this shutdown, but many stopped reporting for work during previous shutdowns when they had to go without pay for some time. The number of air traffic controllers has declined by about 6 percent in the last decade.

How the Air Canada Flight 8646 crash unfolded:

The Air Canada flight from Montreal carrying 76 passengers crashed into a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at the Queens airport late Sunday. Two people were killed in the collision (@SecDuffy/X)

The Air Canada flight from Montreal carrying 76 passengers crashed into a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at the Queens airport late Sunday. Two people were killed in the collision (@SecDuffy/X)

Sunday, March 22

10:12 p.m. – Air Canada Flight 8646, operating as a Jazz Aviation flight on behalf of the Canadian company, departed Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport approximately two hours late.

11.37 p.m. – The passenger plane landed at LaGuardia in New York.

In the moments before the aircraft collided with the fire truck on the runway, an air traffic controller was heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then trying to stop it.

“Truck 1 and company, LaGuardia Tower, requesting to cross 4 at Delta,” a voice on the transmission asked.

“Truck 1 and company, cross 4 at Delta,” a person replied.

“Truck 1 and company crossing 4 at Delta,” the voice said, confirming that the truck was crossing the runway.

“Stop, stop, stop, stop. Stop, Truck 1, stop, stop. Stop, Truck 1, stop,” the voice on the radio was heard saying.

Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and 41 people were taken to the hospital, officials said (Getty)

Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and 41 people were taken to the hospital, officials said (Getty)

11:40 p.m/ 11. 45 p.m. (approx) – The plane collided with the Port Authority fire truck on runway 4 at a speed of 93 to 105 mph, according to flight tracking site FlightRadar24.

“Jazz 646, Jazz 646 I see you collide with a vehicle,” a voice on the radio said to the Air Canada crew. “Just hold position. I know you can’t move. The vehicles are responding to you now.”

Several voices were heard on the radio asking whether runway 4 is closed, and a controller confirmed that the airport was shut.

A voice on the radio was heard saying, “That wasn’t… That wasn’t good to watch.”

Another replied: “Yeah, I know I was here. I tried to reach out to them. I stopped and we were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up…”

The other person on the radio replied, “No man, you did the best you could.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X that he is en route to LaGuardia Airport and said his office is looking into whether air traffic control staffing was a factor in the fatal incident (Getty)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X that he is en route to LaGuardia Airport and said his office is looking into whether air traffic control staffing was a factor in the fatal incident (Getty)

Monday, March 23

Midnight (approx) – Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and 41 people were taken to the hospital, some with serious injuries. LaGuardia Airport announced its closure on social media “to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”

3 a.m. – NYPD announced road closures around the airport.

3:30 a.m. – Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the site of the crash.

4:48 a.m. – Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia held a press conference and confirmed that the pilot and co-pilot of the Air Canada flight both died in the collision.

5 a.m. – LaGuardia Airport announced it would remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday.

8:41 a.m. – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X that he is en route to LaGuardia Airport and said his office is looking into whether air traffic control staffing was a factor in the fatal incident.