Controllers Accused in LaGuardia Crash Night | US News

Two air traffic controllers are facing potential firing for leaving LaGuardia Airport an hour early the night of a deadly crash that killed two pilots and injured six others — a collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck. The FAA accuses them and eight others of abusing leave policies, calling it “time card fraud,” while stressing safety and accountability. Only two controllers were on duty during a peak night, raising concerns about staffing. Though some controllers say early departures are sometimes tolerated as a perk, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear such behavior won’t be tolerated. The union is negotiating and highlighting the dedication of thousands of controllers who work through staffing shortages — including a similar incident in 2021 involving VP Kamala Harris’s helicopter, where no action was taken. Firing controllers involves complex legal processes, and punishments can be reduced or overturned. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fd40456504475ece