LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work early before deadly collision, source says

Two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport in New York left work early on March 22, a government source told CBS News. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the two controllers for timecard fraud, as they left their shifts earlier than scheduled. Just prior to midnight, an Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire truck on the runway, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot, and injuries to 41 people, including two Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, it is typical to have only two controllers in the tower during the midnight shift, as they were working that night. The NTSB has been investigating staffing and fatigue concerns related to controllers working late shifts nationwide. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the FAA will not tolerate fraud and is holding individuals accountable for disrupting the traveling public.

The air traffic controllers union is currently discussing the situation with FAA leadership, while the FAA asserts its commitment to accountability and plans to hire more controllers to address staffing shortages.