2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash
- Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport left their shift approximately one hour early on March 22, 2026, the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots.
- With only two controllers remaining in the tower, there was insufficient backup staffing when the tower experienced an unusual surge of flights while simultaneously handling an emergency involving another aircraft on the ground.
- The Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination of employment.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized early departures as timecard fraud, stating controllers paid for eight hours must work the full shift.
- The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash is ongoing and expected to continue into next year, with multiple contributing factors already identified.
Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left their shifts 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, potentially including termination.
With the early departures, only two controllers remained in the tower to manage an unusual surge of flights while simultaneously handling an emergency involving another aircraft on the ground. The controllers who left were scheduled to remain on duty past the time of the crash and could have provided crucial backup support during the busy period. The FAA is also negotiating a new contract with the air traffic controllers union and hopes to implement a new scheduling model.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the early departures as timecard fraud, stating that controllers paid for eight hours of work must complete their full shifts. 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 already identifying multiple contributing factors beyond staffing levels.
拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管人员在致命坠机前提前一小时下班
2026年3月22日晚间，拉瓜迪亚机场两名空管人员提前约一小时下班，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正在进行的调查的政府官员透露，美国联邦航空管理局正对这两名管制员采取纪律处分，可能包括解雇。
由于管制员提前下班，控制塔内仅剩两人负责管理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。提前离开的管制员原定值班时间应超过坠机发生时间，若留守岗位本可在繁忙时段提供关键的备用支持。联邦航空管理局目前正与空管人员工会谈判新合同，希望实施新的排班模式。
运输部长肖恩·达菲将提前下班定性为考勤欺诈，强调按八小时工资计算的管制员必须完成整个班次。美国国家空管人员协会表示正在与联邦航空管理局领导层积极讨论这些指控。美国国家运输安全委员会的调查预计将持续到明年，调查人员已识别出除人员配置外的多个可能致因因素。