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2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash, AP source says
The Independent • • business
Key Points:
- Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport face possible firing for leaving their shifts about an hour early on the night an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck, killing both pilots, according to a government official.
- Their early departure left only two controllers to manage a busy runway and an emergency, potentially reducing critical backup during the incident; the FAA is pursuing disciplinary action, while the controllers' union is discussing the allegations.
- The March 22 crash involved a fire truck crossing the runway amid an emergency response to a hazardous odor on a United Airlines plane, with the truck lacking a transponder, which hindered collision avoidance systems.
- The crash killed both Air Canada pilots and injured 39 others; the NTSB investigation remains ongoing, with a final report expected next year, and staffing issues are among multiple factors being examined.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the early departures as timecard fraud, emphasizing that most controllers fulfill their full shifts and that such behavior unfairly burdens colleagues and compromises airspace safety.
