The Federal Aviation Administration is moving to fire two air traffic controllers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after they allegedly left work early before the fatal March collision involving an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a fire truck. The incident killed two pilots and injured dozens, and the FAA’s action is a disciplinary step that does not establish whether the early departure contributed to the crash.
The controllers reportedly left about an hour before their shifts were due to end, leaving the tower without backup during a busy overnight period. That detail has sharpened scrutiny of staffing levels and tower procedures, including the informal practice known as an “early shove,” when staff leave ahead of schedule after demanding shifts.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigation remains open and has not determined a probable cause. The fatal collision on 22 March also raised questions over runway coordination at one of the United States’ busiest airports, where controllers were handling heavy traffic at the time of the accident.