The Federal Aviation Administration is taking steps to dismiss two air traffic controllers at LaGuardia Airport in New York following a fatal collision on March 22 involving an Air Canada aircraft and a fire truck. The crash resulted in the deaths of both pilots aboard the plane, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.

Authorities are scrutinizing the circumstances leading up to the accident, including reports that the two controllers had left their posts prior to the collision. These allegations have intensified concerns about persistent staffing shortages and operational protocols within the U.S. air traffic control system.

Investigators are currently examining whether sufficient personnel were present at the time of the incident to manage air traffic safely. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association acknowledged ongoing talks with FAA leadership regarding the matter but declined to provide additional details.

FAA officials confirmed that the two employees were scheduled to be on duty when the crash occurred but were not at their workstations. The agency’s proposed disciplinary action underscores the heightened pressure on air traffic control oversight following the deadly accident at one of the nation’s busiest airports.