US News
LaGuardia air traffic controllers left shifts early prior to fatal March runway crash, source says
The FAA is seeking to fire two air traffic controllers for timecard fraud after they allegedly left work early on the night of a deadly airport collision.
The short version
- Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left work early prior to a fatal March 22 runway collision, according to a government source.
- The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking to fire the controllers for timecard fraud.
- The collision between an Air Canada Express flight and a fire truck killed both pilots and injured dozens of passengers and firefighters.
- The NTSB continues to investigate tower staffing levels and controller fatigue while the FAA works to address staffing shortages.
Key facts
- A government source stated that two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport left their shifts early on March 22 prior to a deadly runway crash.[CBS News]
- The FAA is attempting to terminate the employment of the two controllers for timecard fraud.[CBS News]
- The March 22 collision involved an arriving Air Canada Express plane and a runway fire truck, killing both pilots and resulting in the hospitalization of two fire officers and 39 passengers.[CBS News]
- Two air traffic controllers were working in the tower at the time of the collision, while the two who left early were meant to provide support staffing.[CBS News]
- The NTSB is investigating controller staffing and has raised ongoing concerns regarding shift fatigue across the national airspace system.[CBS News]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unverified whether the departure of the two controllers directly contributed to the runway collision, as well as the specific circumstances behind their early departure.[CBS News]
Sources
- LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work early before deadly collision, source saysCBS News - Top Stories