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 occurred at LaGuardia Airport between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck, killing the two Air Canada pilots and injuring fire truck operators and multiple passengers, marking the airport's first fatal incident in 34 years.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed multiple air traffic controllers were in the tower, refuting rumors of a single controller, despite an ATC admitting to "messing up" in audio recordings.
The incident has reignited calls from Secretary Duffy for Congress to provide substantial additional funding ($31.5 billion) to modernize the nation's air traffic control system, highlighting complex airspace, antiquated technology, and existing gaps in runway safety assessments.

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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.