LaGuardia Controllers Face Discipline After Early Departure Precedes Deadly Runway Crash
Two air traffic controllers at New York's LaGuardia Airport are facing disciplinary action, including potential firing, for leaving their shift an hour early before a deadly crash occurred on the runway involving an Air Canada jet and a fire truck…
Detroit, MI, August 28, 2026 —
Two air traffic controllers working at New York’s LaGuardia Airport are currently subject to disciplinary proceedings, which could lead to their termination. The action stems from their alleged departure from their shift an hour earlier than scheduled.
This early departure occurred prior to a fatal incident on the airport’s runway. The crash involved an Air Canada jet and a fire truck.
The collision resulted in the deaths of the two pilots involved in the incident. The specific timeline connecting the controllers’ early departure to the crash sequence is a focus of the ongoing disciplinary review.
Details regarding the names of the air traffic controllers involved, the exact nature and extent of the disciplinary actions beyond potential firing, and the official findings of any investigations into the crash itself were not immediately available.
The incident has raised questions about operational procedures and staffing levels at LaGuardia Airport during critical periods. Further information is expected as the disciplinary process and any accident investigations continue.
Story summarized from the original created by Josh Funk, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
