2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash
- Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left their shift approximately one hour early on the night of the March 22 crash between an Air Canada jet and a Port Authority fire truck that killed both pilots.
- With the two controllers absent, only two people remained in the tower to manage an unusual surge in flight traffic while simultaneously handling an emergency involving another aircraft on the ground.
- The FAA is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated it is discussing the allegations with FAA leadership.
- The early departure practice, known as an 'early shove,' is reportedly common nationwide among air traffic controllers, though Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized it as timecard fraud.
- The NTSB investigation into the crash is ongoing and expected to continue into next year, with multiple factors beyond staffing levels being examined as potential contributors.
Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport left their shift approximately one hour early on March 22, the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots. According to a government official familiar with the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, the early departure left only two controllers in the tower to manage an unusual surge in flight traffic while simultaneously handling an emergency involving another aircraft on the ground. The controllers who departed were scheduled to remain on duty past the time the crash occurred and could have provided critical backup support.
The Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated it is actively discussing the allegations with FAA leadership. The practice of leaving early, known as an 'early shove,' is reportedly common among air traffic controllers nationwide, though Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized it as timecard fraud, stating that controllers paid for eight hours should work the full shift.
The NTSB investigation remains ongoing and is expected to continue into next year. While investigators have identified staffing levels as a factor of interest, the agency is examining multiple other contributing factors to determine the official cause of the crash. The final investigation report will clarify the circumstances that led to the collision.
拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管员工致命撞机前提前一小时下班
纽约拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管员工在3月22日晚提前约一小时下班，当晚一架加拿大航空客机与跑道上的消防车相撞，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，提前下班导致塔台仅剩两人在处理异常繁忙的航班流量，同时还要应对另一架地面飞机的紧急情况。这两名离职的空管员工原定要在撞机发生后才能下班，本可在塔台繁忙时提供关键的备份支持。
美国联邦航空局正对两名空管员工采取纪律处分，最高可能被解雇。全国空中交通管制员协会表示正与美国联邦航空局领导层积极讨论这些指控。提前下班的做法在全国空管员工中被称为'早班移交'，属于常见做法，但运输部长肖恩·达菲将其定性为工资单欺诈，声称领取八小时薪酬的空管员工应该完成整个班次。
美国国家运输安全委员会的调查仍在进行中，预计将持续到明年。虽然调查人员已将人员配置水平列为关注因素，但该机构正在审查多个其他潜在因素以确定撞机的官方原因。最终调查报告将阐明导致碰撞的具体情况。