Investigators Said to Look at Whether LaGuardia Controller Stepped Away
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Investigators are examining whether an air traffic controller at LaGuardia Airport stepped away to use an emergency phone before an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck on March 22, killing two pilots.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also investigating factors such as the positioning of the lead fire truck, communication devices used by truck drivers, and the impact of weather and light pollution.
- The collision involved the first fire truck in a convoy of six responding to an emergency, marking LaGuardia’s first fatal accident in over 30 years; no passengers or firefighters were killed.
- The NTSB confirms that tower operations and fire truck movements and communications are under review, while the FAA has declined to comment.
- LaGuardia’s overnight staffing includes two controllers in the tower, with additional controllers elsewhere in the building, consistent with FAA minimum requirements.
