Two LaGuardia controllers left early before Air Canada crash

Two LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work early on March 22, the night an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia, according to a source familiar with the FAA investigation. Both pilots on Air Canada Express Flight 8646 were killed, and dozens of passengers were injured. The FAA is now considering disciplinary action as the NTSB continues its probe.

The collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport has raised fresh questions about staffing in the control tower on the night of the crash. Details first reported by the Wall Street Journal underscore how federal oversight, union negotiations, and a months-long safety investigation are converging on a single night that ended in tragedy for an Air Canada regional flight from Montreal.

Key Takeaways

• Two FAA controllers at LaGuardia left work early on March 22, the night Air Canada Express Flight 8646 struck a fire truck after landing.
• Both pilots were killed; 72 passengers and four crew were aboard, and dozens of people were injured.
• The FAA is considering disciplinary action, and both controllers are on leave and not currently directing traffic.
• Their early departures were not by 'just a few minutes,' according to a source familiar with the investigation.
• The NTSB final report with probable cause is not expected for roughly six more months.

What Happened During the Air Canada Express Crash at LaGuardia?

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 had just completed a roughly one-hour trip from Montreal when it collided with an airport fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. The fire truck was crossing the taxiway to respond to a separate incident elsewhere on the airfield.

The regional jet was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Both pilots were killed in the crash. Dozens of passengers were injured.

Debris hung from the damaged aircraft after the March 22 collision. The National Transportation Safety Board has kept its investigation open while agencies involved as official parties to the probe remain limited in what they can say publicly before a final report is issued.

Why Did Two Air Traffic Controllers Leave LaGuardia Early That Night?

According to a source familiar with the investigation, two air traffic controllers staffing the LaGuardia control tower left work early on the same night as the Air Canada crash. The source said their departures were not by 'just a few minutes.'

The Federal Aviation Administration is now considering disciplinary action against those controllers, the source told reporters. Both FAA controllers are currently on leave and are not responsible for controlling air traffic, according to the same source.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the staffing details. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement that the government would not tolerate fraud and would take action against individuals who 'unfairly add additional work to their fellow controllers, and impact the airspace.'

Duffy added that when a small percentage of people take advantage of the American taxpayer, officials 'have no choice but to act.' The FAA, in its own statement, said it is 'committed to holding employees accountable' and would not compromise safety or efficiency in the National Airspace System.

How Are the FAA and the Controllers Union Responding?

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing controllers, would not confirm that members are facing discipline. NATCA said it is 'actively discussing these allegations with FAA leadership' and believes those talks are 'the appropriate forum for addressing the matter.'

Both NATCA and the FAA are considered parties to the NTSB investigation. Organizations in that role are typically restricted from commenting publicly on a crash until the safety board publishes its final findings.

CNN reported that it reached out to the NTSB for comment on the controller allegations. The agency's full report — including a determination of probable cause and contributing factors — is not likely to be published for another six months.

What Does the LaGuardia Crash Mean for Air Canada Passengers and Travelers?

The Air Canada Express flight was a short-haul regional service on a one-hour route between Montreal and New York. Events at major hubs like LaGuardia can affect trip planning, rebooking costs, and insurance claims when serious runway incidents occur.

While the NTSB has not yet assigned official cause, the emerging controller staffing questions add a labor and oversight dimension to an already complex case. The FAA and NATCA remain parties to the investigation, limiting how much either side can say publicly until the board issues its findings.

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When Will Investigators Release a Final Report on the Crash?

The NTSB continues to lead the technical investigation into the Air Canada Express collision. A final report laying out probable cause and contributing factors is not expected for approximately six months, according to reporting on the probe's timeline.

Until then, the controller departures remain allegations under active federal review rather than confirmed violations in a published safety finding. The FAA's consideration of disciplinary action is separate from, but parallel to, the board's broader crash analysis.

For authoritative background on federal aviation safety procedures, see the Federal Aviation Administration. The Wall Street Journal first reported the controller staffing details cited in the ongoing investigation.