safety
LGA controllers face termination for leaving before fatal runway crash
Federal regulators are seeking to fire two LaGuardia air traffic controllers who vacated their posts prior to the end of their shifts on the evening of a fatal March 2026 runway accident. Their premature exit left just two remaining personnel in the tower to manage a massive surge in delayed traffic. Later that night, a landing regional jet collided with a crossing rescue vehicle, killing both flight crew members. This severe disciplinary move signals a strict agency crackdown on unauthorized absences, ensuring vital backup personnel remain on site to manage operational emergencies.
