The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to terminate two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport who allegedly left their posts early before an Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway on March 22. The crash resulted in the deaths of both pilots and raised questions about staffing levels and operational practices at the airport’s air traffic control tower.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the two controllers departed prior to the end of their shifts without properly recording this, which the FAA classifies as a form of timecard fraud. The incident has occurred amid a broader agency investigation into timecard irregularities affecting multiple facilities nationwide. The FAA is reportedly taking disciplinary action against a dozen controllers in total.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:37 p.m., when the Air Canada flight struck a fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway. Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicate only two controllers were on duty in the tower at the time. However, questions remain as to whether additional personnel were present elsewhere in the tower and whether official staffing records accurately reflect staffing on that night.
Typically, midsize airports like LaGuardia operate with minimal overnight air traffic control staffing due to lighter air traffic during those hours. However, on the night of the crash, the tower was handling a higher volume of aircraft arrivals and departures, delayed by rain and thunderstorms earlier that day. Flight tracking data shows that traffic levels post-11 p.m. were comparable to peak evening activity prior to the weather disruptions.
The FAA has emphasized that while most controllers accurately report their hours, instances of early departures can impose additional workloads on colleagues and compromise airspace safety. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy underscored the agency’s commitment to addressing fraud and maintaining public safety.
However, some experienced controllers argue that leaving early without formal notification has been a tacitly tolerated practice for years within the industry, often used informally to alleviate overwork amid chronic staffing shortages. Retired controller Harvey Scolnick stated that the FAA has long been aware of such practices but has not previously taken stringent disciplinary measures.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), representing the controllers, has not publicly addressed specific questions regarding staffing or disciplinary actions but confirmed ongoing discussions with FAA leadership on the issue. Both the union and the FAA have consistently highlighted a critical shortage of qualified controllers as a major challenge. While the FAA announced in April that its controller workforce reached nearly 11,000 personnel, this still falls short of both the union's and prior FAA benchmarks for full staffing by thousands. The agency’s subsequent staffing needs revision, citing efficiency improvements, has been criticized by NATCA for underestimating requirements.
The NTSB continues to investigate the cause of the March 22 collision, with no definitive conclusions yet on whether the controllers’ early departures contributed directly to the crash or if staffing on the night was sufficient given the operational demands. The event has renewed scrutiny on aviation safety protocols and workforce management in U.S. air traffic control operations.