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 the night of March 22 when an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots.
- The early departure left only two controllers in the tower to manage an unusually high volume of flights while handling an emergency situation with another aircraft on the ground.
- The Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination of employment.
- The controllers' early departure is part of a widespread practice known as an 'early shove,' where controllers leave when their required break falls at the end of a shift, though experts say this should not be permitted.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the early departures as timecard fraud, stating that controllers paid for eight hours must work the full shift.
Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport in New York left their shift approximately one hour early on March 22, the night an Air Canada jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway, killing both pilots. According to a government official involved in the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action against the two controllers, potentially including termination.
The early departure significantly impacted tower operations that evening. With only two controllers remaining, the tower faced an unusually heavy volume of flights while simultaneously managing an emergency situation involving another aircraft on the ground. The official noted 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.
The early departure practice, known as an 'early shove,' is reportedly common nationwide when controllers' required breaks coincide with the end of their shifts. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized such departures as timecard fraud, emphasizing 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 NTSB investigation is expected to continue into next year, with investigators examining multiple factors that may have contributed to the crash.
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
纽约拉瓜迪亚机场的两名空管人员在3月22日晚间提前约一小时下班，当晚一架加拿大航空公司的飞机与港务局消防车在跑道上相撞，造成两名飞行员死亡。根据参与美国国家运输安全委员会调查的政府官员透露，美国联邦航空局正在对这两名空管人员采取纪律处分，包括可能的解雇。
提前离职对当晚的塔台运营造成了重大影响。仅剩两名空管人员的情况下，塔台需要处理异常繁忙的航班流量，同时还要应对地面另一架飞机的紧急情况。该官员指出，如果这两名空管人员按计划完成班次，他们本可以在塔台繁忙时提供关键的后备支持。
这种被称为'提前离班'的做法据报在全国范围内很普遍，通常发生在空管人员的法定休息时间恰好在班次末尾时。然而，交通运输部长肖恩·达菲将这种做法定性为时间卡欺诈，强调领取八小时薪酬的空管人员必须完成整个班次。美国联邦航空局正在与空管人员工会谈判新合同，可能包括修订的排班协议。美国国家运输安全委员会的调查预计将持续到明年，调查人员正在审查可能导致坠机的多个因素。