Two LaGuardia Air Traffic Controllers Face Dismissal After Fatal Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration moved to fire two air traffic controllers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after an investigation revealed they abandoned their posts early prior to a fatal runway collision. Commercial airlines, federal safety regulators, and air traffic control facilities face heightened oversight following the March 22 crash between an Air Canada plane and a Port Authority fire truck that killed both pilots.
FAA Targets ‘Early Shoves’ as Secretary Duffy Vows Zero Tolerance for Fraud
Federal officials established that the two controllers were scheduled to be on duty at the time of the collision but had departed the facility ahead of schedule. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the agency’s enforcement action, stating that while most controllers perform their duties faithfully, the government will not tolerate unauthorized shift departures that disrupt the airspace or shift extra burden onto working personnel. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed it is actively discussing the allegations with FAA leadership while declining to comment further on the ongoing proceedings.
Air traffic personnel noted that departing shortly before scheduled shift ends, known within the industry as “early shoves”, had grown into a widespread practice at multiple facilities despite a broader nationwide push by the federal government to crack down on unapproved breaks and unauthorized early exits. Controllers on duty the night of the crash described heavy traffic conditions requiring off-duty staff to stay past regular hours, amplifying the impact of the missing personnel.
The planned terminations follow broader federal investigations into operational practices and chronic staffing shortages across the US air traffic control network, sparked directly by the collision at LaGuardia.
