- Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left work early on the night of a deadly runway collision in March, a government source familiar with the situation told CBS News.
- On March 22, surveillance footage captured the moment the plane smashed into a fire truck on the runway, resulting in the deaths of two pilots.
- The FAA is moving to fire the two controllers who left early, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- The controllers clocked off about an hour early, leaving the control tower short-staffed before the crash.
- A preliminary report in April indicated that the accident was due to communication failures and a lack of proper equipment.
- One of the most egregious errors occurred when air traffic controllers gave clearance to the fire truck crew to cross the runway while the jet was approaching.
- An air traffic controller realized the mistake a few seconds later, telling the fire crew to "stop stop stop".
- However, one of the two occupants of the truck did not know who that transmission was intended for.
- Another factor was the lack of a transponder on the fire engine, which would have alerted air traffic controllers of the collision course.
- This incident marked LaGuardia's first fatal accident since 1992.
Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left their posts an hour early on March 22, just before a collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck that resulted in the deaths of two pilots.12
The FAA is pursuing termination of the controllers, citing their early departure as a significant factor in the incident.
According to reports, LaGuardia was managing over twice its usual traffic at the time of the accident, which has raised serious questions about staffing and safety protocols.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the plane collided with the rescue vehicle, highlighting the critical communication failures that occurred.
A preliminary investigation revealed that air traffic controllers had mistakenly cleared the fire truck to cross the runway while the jet was approaching.
An air traffic controller realized the error moments later, urgently instructing the fire crew to “stop stop stop,” but confusion ensued as one occupant of the truck was unsure to whom the transmission was directed.
Investigators noted that the fire engine lacked a transponder, which could have alerted controllers to the impending collision.
This incident marks LaGuardia's first fatal accident since 1992, prompting the FAA to emphasize its commitment to safety and accountability within the National Airspace System.10
An FAA spokeswoman stated, “We will not compromise the safety or efficiency of the National Airspace System.”
“The controllers clocked off about an hour early, an informal perk called an 'early shove,' leaving the tower short-staffed while LaGuardia handled over twice its usual traffic. Investigators also found the fire truck lacked a transponder that would have alerted controllers to the collision course.”
CBS News
