2 air traffic controllers left early on night of deadly LaGuardia plane collision, FAA finds
The crash back on March 23 killed both pilots, left dozens injured
NEW YORK -- The Federal Aviation Administration determined two air traffic controllers left work an hour early the night a plane crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in March.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report this development and says the agency is now moving to fire the two controllers.
It is not uncommon for controllers to leave early, a practice, known internally as an "early shove," as many work six days a week due to staffing shortages, but is a form of timecard fraud.
"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," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says it is discussing with FAA leadership.
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The crash back on March 23 killed both pilots of the regional Air Canada jet, left dozens injured and prompted LaGuardia to shut down for more than 12 hours.
A preliminary report from the NTSB found the same air traffic controller was handling both ground and air traffic that night, which is usually the work of two people.
After a similar crash happened at the same airport back in 1997, controllers were ordered not to combine positions before midnight.
But, the only other controller in the tower that night was dealing with a separate emergency at the time after a separate plane had landed with smoke filling the cock pit.
