2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash, AP source says
- Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport left the tower about an hour early on March 22, 2026, the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots.
- The FAA is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination, according to a government official familiar with the ongoing NTSB investigation.
- With only two controllers remaining in the tower after the early departures, there was insufficient backup when the airport experienced an unusual surge of flights and an emergency situation on another aircraft.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the early departures as timecard fraud, stating controllers paid for eight hours must work the full shift.
- Experts and retired officials noted that leaving early when a required break falls at the end of a shift, known as an 'early shove,' is a common practice nationwide among air traffic controllers.
Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left their posts approximately one hour early on March 22, 2026, the night an Air Canada jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots. According to a government official familiar with the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, with potential termination being considered.
The early departures left only two controllers in the tower to manage an unusual surge of flights while simultaneously handling an emergency situation involving another aircraft on the ground. The official stated that the controllers who left early could have provided crucial backup support had they remained at the airport until the end of their scheduled shifts, which extended beyond the time of the crash.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the early departures as timecard fraud, stating that controllers compensated for eight hours of work must complete their full shifts. However, experts and retired officials noted that leaving early when a required break coincides with the end of a shift—a practice known as an "early shove"—is common nationwide among air traffic controllers. The FAA is currently negotiating a new contract with the air traffic controllers union and hopes to implement a revised scheduling model as part of these discussions.
美联社消息：致命坠机前拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管人员提前一小时下班
2026年3月22日晚，拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管人员提前约一小时离开岗位，当晚一架加拿大航空公司飞机与港务局消防车在跑道上相撞，造成两名飞行员丧生。根据熟悉美国国家运输安全委员会调查的政府官员透露，美国联邦航空局正对这两名空管人员采取纪律处分，可能包括解雇。
由于两名空管人员提前离职，塔台仅剩两人负责管理异常繁忙的航班流量，同时处理另一架地面飞机的紧急情况。该官员表示，如果这两名空管人员按照预定班次留到班次结束（时间在坠机之后），他们本可以在塔台繁忙时提供关键的备用支持。
美国运输部长肖恩·达菲将提前离职行为定性为时间卡欺诈，称领取八小时薪酬的空管人员必须完成整个班次。然而，专家和退休官员指出，当班次末尾的必需休息时间到来时提前离职（被称为'早班移交'）在全国空管人员中是普遍做法。美国联邦航空局目前正与空管人员工会协商新合同，希望将修订后的排班模式纳入协议内容。