Duffy: More Than 1 Controller in LaGuardia Tower During Fatal Collision

Transportation Secretary says ‘rumor’ that only one ATC was working during the incident is ‘inaccurate.’

Jack Daleo

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 05:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrive at LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4 following the fatal collision between a passenger jet and fire truck. [Credit: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

A fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to numerous passengers and fire truck operators.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy denied claims of a single air traffic controller (ATC) working alone, though reports and controller audio suggest one ATC handled multiple positions and admitted responsibility; the NTSB is investigating staffing levels and operational procedures.
Secretary Duffy leveraged the incident to advocate for increased federal funding ($31.5 billion) to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system, highlighting issues with outdated technology and the intensive training required for complex airspaces like LaGuardia.

See a mistake? Contact us.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday afternoon that there was more than one air traffic controller (ATC) in the tower at LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) during Sunday’s fatal runway collision between an Air Canada jet and fire truck.

Duffy in a news conference said the “rumor” that a LaGuardia controller—who moments after the crash said he “messed up”—was working alone, is “inaccurate.” He implied that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the incident with Canadian partners, is aware of the tower’s staffing levels Sunday night.