A powerful early-morning explosion in Queens threw responding NYPD officers through the air and collapsed the house, damaging nearby properties. Eight officers received minor injuries and several residents were hospitalized; all occupants were reported accounted for. The person who prompted the response is unaccounted for and was reportedly carrying a knife and canisters of an unknown substance. Authorities say the investigation into the blast and the canisters is ongoing.
Massive Queens Explosion Sends NYPD Officers Flying; Home Collapses
This image made from New York Police Department body camera video shows an officer after an explosion at a house while responding to a call of an armed man Thursday, April 30, 2026, in the Queens borough of New York. (New York Police Department via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A massive, fiery explosion ripped through a small house in Queens just before 3 a.m. Thursday, hurling several New York City police officers through the air and causing the house to collapse, authorities said. Neighboring homes were also damaged.
What Happened
Body-worn camera footage shows officers approaching the residence after a report of a man inside armed with a knife and a strong smell of gas. As one officer began to open the door, a violent blast erupted, shattering windows and propelling officers backward across a yard and into a metal gate. The footage then shows officers scrambling through debris and smoke, checking one another and helping residents escape.
Police said eight officers were treated for minor injuries, including burns and at least one head laceration. Several residents were taken to hospital for evaluation; officers reported that everyone who had been inside the building has been accounted for.
Suspect And Ongoing Investigation
Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh told reporters the person who prompted the initial call arrived intoxicated, carrying a knife and two garbage bags containing canisters with an "unknown substance." According to McIntosh, the man forced an air-conditioning unit inward to enter a basement apartment where his wife, daughter and two grandchildren lived. Family members escaped the unit before officers arrived. The man is currently unaccounted for.
"I want to be clear: We got very lucky today, alright. This could have turned out really differently," Assistant Chief McIntosh said at a news briefing, later adding, "Thankfully, today, luck was on their side."
Damage And Next Steps
Authorities said the home collapsed after the blast and nearby houses sustained damage. Emergency crews secured the scene, and investigators from the fire marshal's office and other units were dispatched to determine the cause of the explosion and identify the contents of the canisters. Residents were asked to avoid the area while officials complete their examination and repairs are arranged.
Officials cautioned that the investigation is ongoing and no definitive motive or cause has been announced.
Help us improve.
