2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash, AP source says
- Two air traffic controllers at 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, up to and including termination.
- With only two controllers remaining in the tower after the early departures, there was reduced backup capacity when the tower became busy and dealt with an emergency involving another aircraft.
- The controllers were scheduled to work past the time of the crash and could have provided crucial backup if they had remained on duty.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the early departures as timecard fraud, stating controllers paid for eight hours must work the full shift.
Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport left their posts approximately one hour early on the evening of March 22, 2026, when an Air Canada jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway, resulting in the deaths of 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 as a possible outcome.
The early departure significantly impacted tower operations that night. With only two controllers remaining to manage an unusually heavy volume of flights while simultaneously handling an emergency involving another aircraft on the ground, the tower lacked the backup capacity that would have been available had the controllers remained until the end of their scheduled shifts. The official noted that the departing controllers were scheduled to work beyond the time of the crash and could have provided crucial support during the busy period.
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. The FAA is also negotiating a new contract with the air traffic controllers union that may include revised scheduling protocols. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association indicated it is actively discussing the allegations with FAA leadership. The NTSB investigation into the crash is expected to continue into next year, with investigators examining multiple contributing factors beyond staffing levels.
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
纽约拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管人员在2026年3月22日晚提前约一小时离开塔台，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。根据熟悉国家运输安全委员会正在进行的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，可能的处罚包括解雇。
提前离职对当晚的塔台运营造成重大影响。塔台只剩两人需要应对异常繁忙的航班流量，同时还要处理地面另一架飞机的紧急情况，导致备用人力严重不足。若这两名空管人员按原定班次留到班，本可在繁忙时段提供关键支持。该官员指出，这两名离职的空管人员原定应值班至坠机时间之后。
交通运输部长肖恩·达菲将提前离职定性为时间卡欺诈，强调领取八小时薪酬的空管人员必须完成整个班次。美国联邦航空局正与空管人员工会谈判新合同，可能包括修订排班规程。全国空管人员协会表示正与联邦航空局领导层积极讨论这些指控。国家运输安全委员会对此次坠机的调查预计将持续到明年，调查人员正在审视除人员配置外的多个可能的致灾因素。