Two air traffic controllers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport have been placed on administrative leave after leaving their posts approximately one hour early on the night of a fatal aircraft collision, according to a source familiar with the matter. The incident involved an Air Canada jet and a fire truck.
The collision occurred when the Air Canada aircraft struck a fire truck that was crossing the runway. Two people aboard the fire truck were killed in the incident. Investigators are currently examining the circumstances surrounding the crash and the staffing levels in the control tower at the time.
According to a source speaking to The Associated Press, the two controllers left the tower before their scheduled shifts ended. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials, the agency responsible for investigating civil transportation accidents, confirmed that two controllers were not at their posts when they were supposed to be, but did not comment on their personnel status.
The FAA said it has placed the two controllers on administrative leave and is seeking to fire them. The agency is also conducting a broader review of staffing practices and tower procedures. The investigation by the NTSB is ongoing to determine if the absence of the controllers contributed to the collision. No specific dates for a final report or disciplinary hearings were provided.