Full Breakdown
FAA Moves to Terminate Two LaGuardia Controllers After Fatal Crash
8/28/2026, 8:14:57 PM
Incident Overview
On March 22, an Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montréal collided with a Port Authority fire-truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft slowed to about 30 mph before impact, killing the captain, Capt. Antoine Forest, and first officer, First Officer Mackenzie Gunther. A flight attendant suffered leg fractures. Reports differed on injuries: one source said 71 people were hospitalized, another said 39 were transported. The runway was left strewn with debris and smoke, and the cockpit was destroyed.
Staffing and Early Departures
Investigators learned that two air-traffic controllers left their posts roughly an hour before their scheduled shift end on the night of the crash, reducing the tower staff to two controllers. Their workload had risen to more than twice the airport’s normal traffic volume because of rain and thunderstorms. The FAA treats such “early shove” departures as a form of time-card fraud.
Investigation Findings
- Flight details: The jet carried 72 passengers and four crew members.
- Communication: A preliminary NTSB report found a controller cleared the aircraft to land less than two minutes before a fire-truck was cleared to cross the active runway. The controller later issued repeated “stop” commands to the truck, which went unanswered.
- Equipment: The fire-truck lacked a transponder, complicating the controller’s ability to verify its position.
- Casualty counts: ABC News reported 39 people were taken to hospitals; JusttheNews reported 71 hospitalizations, reflecting a discrepancy in early reporting.
Official Statements & Responses
- The FAA, in an email to the press, said it is “committed to holding employees accountable” and will not compromise the safety or efficiency of the National Airspace System.
- The NTSB, still conducting its investigation, has not linked the controllers’ early departure to the cause of the collision and expects a final report within 12 to 24 months.
Criticism & Opposition
NATCA officials have warned that chronic staffing shortages contribute to fatigue and pressure on controllers, potentially influencing decisions such as early departures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Injury numbers differ between ABC News (39 transported) and JusttheNews (71 hospitalized).
- Cause of the crash remains undetermined; the NTSB has not confirmed whether the controllers’ early departure directly affected runway coverage.
- The exact staffing at the time of the incident has not been independently verified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The vast majority of air-traffic controllers are great patriots — they show up for work, complete their full shift, and come back and do it all again,” — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
- “I’ve heard the rumor that there was only one controller in the tower, and that is not accurate,” — Sean Duffy, transportation secretary
What’s Next
The FAA has initiated termination proceedings for the two controllers, who will have the opportunity to respond and may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. The NTSB’s final report, expected within a year, will address the broader causes of the March 22 collision. Congressional oversight committees are likely to examine the FAA’s staffing policies and disciplinary actions at LaGuardia and other high-traffic airports.
