LaGuardia Runway 31 Reopens After Six-Day Closure Following Fatal Crash

Runway 31 Reopens After Fatal Collision

Runway 31 at LaGuardia Airport officially reopened March 28 following a six-day closure that began after a fatal collision March 23. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed repairs were complete and FAA safety inspections passed around 10 a.m. local time, restoring the airport to full operational capacity. However, residual delays persisted with 652 disruptions recorded on reopening day, significantly lower than the peak of 811 incidents reported March 24.

Incident Details and Impact

The closure resulted from a collision between Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, and a Port Authority police fire truck during final approach at 11:40 p.m. March 23. Two pilots died in the crash while 41 passengers and crew sustained serious injuries, alongside two injured officers in the vehicle. Runway 31 accounts for approximately 35% of LGA's operational capacity, and its loss during severe weather conditions contributed to more than 3,000 cancellations and 450,000 stranded passengers through March 28.

Recovery and Investigation

National air travel is expected to normalize by March 31 as crews reposition following the backlog. Delta Air Lines issued exception policies for travelers affected during the closure period through March 28. The National Transportation Safety Board has completed debris field evidence collection, marking a key milestone in the ongoing investigation into the runway incursion.