The Federal Aviation Administration is moving to fire two air-traffic controllers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after determining they left their shifts early before the fatal collision involving Air Canada Express Flight 8646 and a fire truck on 22 March 2026. The decision centres on staffing at the tower during a heavy-traffic period, when the absence of the two controllers left reduced backup in place.
The crash killed both pilots aboard the regional jet and injured passengers and workers on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the accident and has not reached final conclusions on whether tower staffing affected the collision. FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are treating the case as part of a wider crackdown on misconduct and timecard fraud in air traffic control, including so-called early departures.
The controllers’ union, NATCA, is discussing the allegations with FAA leadership but has not confirmed any disciplinary details. The action comes as investigators continue to review how the LaGuardia tower was staffed in the moments before the collision.