Pilots at LaGuardia have complained about close calls and air traffic control confusion for years: "Please do something"
CBS News • • business
Key Points:
- Pilots have long reported controller miscommunication and close calls with ground vehicles at LaGuardia Airport, with dozens of anonymous safety reports and official FAA records documenting incidents over the past three decades.
- Recent reports highlight runway incursions and near collisions involving aircraft and ground vehicles, including a 2001 near-miss with a snowplow on the same runway involved in a recent deadly collision.
- FAA data reveals at least 132 runway incursion incidents since 2000 at LaGuardia, with multiple involving ground vehicles, while NASA's anonymous system logged over 120 ground conflict reports, some describing dangerous scenarios and controller workload concerns.
- Pilots have criticized operational pressures and non-functional safety systems, such as a runway status light system, and noted controllers managing both tower and ground frequencies simultaneously, increasing risk.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating recent ground collisions, underscoring ongoing safety challenges at the busy airport despite longstanding concerns raised by flight crews.
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