FAA Found LaGuardia Air-Traffic Controllers Left Work Early Before Deadly Collision

 

FAA Found LaGuardia Air-Traffic Controllers Left Work Early Before Deadly Collision

## The agency is moving to fire the two controllers, who left about an hour before their shifts ended

Federal aviation officials have found that two air-traffic controllers left work early before a fatal runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport in March .

The Federal Aviation Administration is now moving to fire the two controllers, who officials determined had left about an hour before their shifts ended on the night of March 22 . The agency considers the practice a form of timecard fraud, and the push to terminate the employees signals an aggressive response by the Trump administration .

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## The Collision

Just before midnight on March 22, an Air Canada Express flight arriving from Montreal collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia .

The plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The pilot and co-pilot were killed. Two Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers and 39 people from the plane were taken to local hospitals .

The fire truck had been given permission to cross the runway to check on another aircraft that had aborted its takeoff. A controller can be heard frantically telling the fire truck to stop on airport communications as the collision became imminent .

## The "Early Shove"

The two controllers who left early were supposed to provide backup support for the two remaining controllers in the tower, but their departure left them without reinforcement to assist with high workloads .

Leaving early is called an "early shove" in the aviation industry and is considered an informal perk for controllers, sometimes offered after especially taxing shifts . Current and former controllers told the Wall Street Journal that managers have at times condoned the practice rather than having employees spend their final half-hour in a break room .

However, FAA officials consider it a form of timecard fraud and a safety risk . The agency has taken steps this year to terminate more than 10 controllers for alleged timecard fraud or abuse of leave policies .

## The Context

LaGuardia was handling more than twice its usual volume of traffic on the night of the accident due to thunderstorms and disruptions . The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash and has not yet concluded what role, if any, tower staffing may have played . Aviation accidents often result from a series of failures, and investigators may take a year or more to determine their causes .

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the controllers' actions in a statement Thursday:

> "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. But when a small percentage of individuals take advantage of the American taxpayer, unfairly add additional work to their fellow controllers, and impact the airspace — we have no choice but to act. We will not tolerate fraud, and we are taking appropriate action to hold folks accountable and prevent unlawful practices from disrupting the traveling public."

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it is actively discussing the allegations with FAA leadership .

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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. What happened at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026?

An Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport just before midnight. The collision killed the pilot and co-pilot. Dozens of others were taken to hospitals .

### 2. Did air traffic controllers leave early before the crash?

Yes. The FAA found that two air traffic controllers left work about an hour before their shifts ended on the night of the March 22 crash .

### 3. What is an "early shove"?

"Early shove" is industry slang for when air traffic controllers leave work before their shift officially ends. It is sometimes considered an informal perk offered after busy periods, but the FAA views it as timecard fraud .

### 4. Why is the FAA trying to fire the controllers?

The FAA considers leaving early without authorization to be timecard fraud and a safety risk. The agency is pushing to fire the two controllers who left before their shifts ended .

### 5. How many controllers were in the tower that night?

Two controllers were working in the tower at the time of the crash. The two who left early would have been additional support staffing. The NTSB said having two controllers on the midnight shift is common practice across the national airspace .

### 6. What did Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy say?

Duffy said the vast majority of air traffic controllers are dedicated professionals, but the agency will not tolerate fraud or practices that "impact the airspace" .

### 7. Is this an isolated incident?

No. The FAA has terminated more than 10 controllers this year for alleged timecard fraud or abuse of leave policies. The issue of "early shoves" was also identified at Reagan National Airport following a serious close call involving a Marine helicopter used by then Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021 .

### 8. What is the NTSB saying about the crash?

The NTSB is still investigating the March accident and has not yet determined what role, if any, tower staffing may have played in the collision . The NTSB has long had concerns about fatigue among controllers working the late shift .