by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:35 AM ET, Fri August 28, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to fire
two air traffic controllers at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport after they allegedly
left work early on the night an Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port
Authority fire truck, killing both pilots.
According to ABCNews.com,
the controllers left about an hour before their scheduled shifts ended on March
22. The collision occurred shortly after the Air Canada flight landed at
LaGuardia, killing Capt. Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said two
controllers were working in the LaGuardia tower at the time of the crash.
Preliminary findings suggest one handled two positions while the other
coordinated a separate emergency. Two controllers were considered standard
staffing for that shift.
The FAA considers unauthorized early departures a form of
timecard fraud and has taken disciplinary action against more than 10
controllers this year over alleged timecard or leave-policy violations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters that the FAA would hold employees accountable for
conduct that takes advantage of taxpayers, adds workload for other controllers,
or affects the nation’s airspace.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it is
discussing the allegations with FAA leadership.
The FAA has also been working to address nationwide air
traffic controller shortages, hiring more than 2,000 controllers so far in
2026. Staffing levels have been a major concern for the aviation industry and
have contributed to delays at airports nationwide.
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