Controller staffing scrutinized in LaGuardia runway collision probe

An investigation into a fatal ground collision at LaGuardia Airport in March is examining staffing in the airport's control tower on the night of the accident. According to a source close to the National Transportation Safety Board's inquiry, two air traffic controllers may have left their shift early.

The collision occurred on March 22 when a fire truck crossing an active runway to respond to an unrelated incident struck a landing regional jet operating as Air Canada Express Flight 8646. The aircraft's two pilots were killed. There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard, and several people were injured.

The controllers in question have reportedly been placed on unpaid leave while the investigation continues, though the extent of their role in the accident has not been established.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is committed to holding employees accountable and will not compromise the safety of the national airspace system. The agency also pointed to hiring gains, saying it had brought on more than 2,000 controllers in 2026, describing it as the largest single-year total on record and about 20 percent more than in 2024. The FAA said it has met 94 percent of its hiring target for the year.

The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation remains ongoing, with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA also participating. No final findings on the cause of the collision have been released.