NTSB report describes chaos at LaGuardia Airport ahead of deadly Air Canada crash
Gothamist • • business
Key Points:
- A Port Authority truck collided with an Air Canada plane at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, killing the plane’s two pilots and injuring 39 others, due to communication breakdowns among emergency vehicles on the runway.
- The truck driver heard repeated “stop” commands from air traffic control but did not realize they were directed at his vehicle because radio transmissions were obscured by simultaneous communication on the same frequency.
- None of the seven emergency vehicles responding to a smoke report had transponders to precisely track their locations, preventing airport systems from predicting the collision risk with the landing plane.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report highlighting multiple failures in communication and coordination, with a full investigation expected to take up to two years.
- The Port Authority, which manages LaGuardia, stated it is reviewing safety and training programs and will consider NTSB recommendations but has not yet made any equipment changes.
