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Two air traffic controllers left work about an hour before their shifts ended on March 22 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, leaving the tower understaffed shortly before an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck, according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times .
The crash killed two pilots and injured six others on the ground. Surveillance footage captured the moment the Air Canada aircraft struck the fire truck as it crossed the runway, the Journal reported . Investigators found that air traffic controllers had cleared the fire truck to cross the runway just as the plane was approved to land on the same strip. A controller realized the error seconds later and radioed “stop stop stop” 12 times in 10 seconds, but the fire truck’s driver did not recognize the command was intended for them, according to Canada’s CBC .
The fire truck lacked a transponder that would have automatically alerted controllers to the collision course, a preliminary report in April noted . LaGuardia was handling more than twice its usual traffic volume that day due to rain and thunderstorms, the Journal reported .
The Federal Aviation Administration is moving to fire the two controllers who left early, according to the Journal. The practice, known in the industry as an “early shove,” is considered an informal perk by some controllers after busy shifts, but the FAA views it as timecard fraud . The agency has fired more than 10 controllers this year for alleged timecard fraud or leave policy abuses, the report said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement that while most controllers are dedicated, the FAA “will not tolerate fraud” when employees exploit taxpayer funds or compromise airspace safety . The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it was discussing the allegations with the FAA, emphasizing the challenges posed by staffing shortages .
The FAA has hired over 2,000 controllers this year, reaching 94% of its 2026 hiring goal to address staffing shortages, according to the agency . The March 22 crash was the first fatal accident at LaGuardia since 1992 .
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nltimes.nl · about 3 hours ago
Kontrolli oma kott kohe üle! Asi, mida pead tavaliseks, võib sind lennujaamast otse tagasi koju saata Kommertslennufirma Jet2 tuletab oma reisijatele meelde olulisi pakkimisreegleid, hoiatades, et liitiumakudega seadmed võivad põhjustada reaalset tuleohtu.
postimees · about 4 hours ago
Two air traffic controllers left work early ahead of a deadly collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport in March, The Wall Street Journal reports u.afp.com/SVQH
bluesky_AFP English · about 4 hours ago
Controladores aéreos dejaron su puesto antes del mortal accidente en Nueva York entre un avión de Air Canada y un camión de bomberos Terminaron su jornada laboral alrededor de una hora antes de que acabara su turno, dejando la torre de control con poco personal, según Wall Street Journal Leer
elmundo · about 5 hours ago
Luchtverkeersleiders te vroeg naar huis vertrokken op dag van dodelijke crash op LaGuardia-luchthaven New York
de morgen · about 5 hours ago
La Guardian turma | Mediat: Kaksi lennonjohtajaa oli lähtenyt etukäteen töistä ennen lentokoneen ja paloauton törmäystä Kaksi lentäjää kuoli, kun matkustajakone ja paloauto törmäsivät La Guardian kentällä New Yorkissa maaliskuussa. Autolle ja koneelle oli annettu samaan aikaan lupa siirtyä samalle kiitotielle.
helsingin sanomat · about 6 hours ago
Media: luchtverkeersleiders al naar huis tijdens dodelijk ongeluk LaGuardia Twee luchtverkeersleiders op de luchthaven LaGuardia in New York waren ongeveer een uur voor het einde van hun dienst naar huis gegaan, kort voor de dodelijke botsing tussen een toestel van Air Canada en een brandweerwagen in maart. Dat melden The Wall Street Journal en The New York Times op basis van ingewijden.
rtl nieuws · about 7 hours ago
Media: verkeerstoren LaGuardia onderbezet voor dodelijke botsing tussen vliegtuig en brandweerwagen Twee luchtverkeersleiders op de luchthaven LaGuardia in New York waren ongeveer een uur voor het einde van hun dienst naar huis gegaan, kort voor de dodelijke botsing tussen een toestel van Air Canada en een brandweerwagen in maart. Dat melden The Wall Street Journal en The New York Times op basis van ingewijden.
rtl nieuws · about 8 hours ago
FAA is pushing to fire LaGuardia air traffic controllers who left before deadly plane collision The March collision left two pilots dead and at least six other people seriously injured
independent · about 9 hours ago