Safety Experts Considered LaGuardia Challenging but Not an Outlier
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data and expert interviews indicate that LaGuardia Airport has not been a significant source of runway safety concerns despite a recent fatal collision between a plane and a fire truck.
- The FAA has been actively working to reduce runway incursions—instances where unauthorized vehicles or aircraft enter runways—and reported an 8% decrease in such incidents in 2023, reaching the lowest levels since 2020.
- Since 2001, LaGuardia has recorded only two close calls involving runway incursions, with the most recent in 2016, which is comparable to other major U.S. airports.
- Aviation experts note that while LaGuardia is a busy and relatively small airport that can be challenging for pilots, its runway safety record is neither better nor worse than many other airports.
