An investigation is currently underway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport regarding the conduct of air traffic control staff on the night of a fatal runway accident. According to reports citing an Associated Press source, two controllers departed the airport tower approximately one hour before their scheduled shift ended. This early departure occurred on the same night that an Air Canada aircraft collided with a fire truck that was crossing the runway.

The collision resulted in the deaths of both pilots involved in the incident. While the report highlights the unauthorized absence of the controllers, it does not explicitly state that the early departure was the direct cause of the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and relevant oversight bodies are expected to determine if the staffing shortage in the tower contributed to the operational failures that led to the crash. The potential disciplinary action, which could include termination, underscores the severity of the breach in protocol. As the investigation continues, authorities are examining whether standard safety procedures were followed by the remaining staff and if the absence of the two controllers impacted the communication between the tower and the ground vehicles involved in the accident.