Report: ATC Staffing Levels Scrutinized in LaGuardia Collision Investigation

Wall Street Journal reports two controllers possibly left work early on night of fatal March ground crash.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, August 28, 2026 at 11:25 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

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:

An investigation into a ground collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which caused fatalities and injuries, is probing whether two air traffic controllers left work early.
Sources indicate these controllers have been placed on unpaid leave as part of the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inquiry.
The FAA has emphasized its commitment to employee accountability and is accelerating the hiring of new air traffic controllers.

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The investigation into the ground collision between an airport fire truck and a regional jet at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) in March is looking at the possibility that two air traffic controllers in the tower left work early that night.

According to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, a source close to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation has found the controllers have been placed on unpaid leave.