New York: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to fire two air traffic controllers who allegedly left New York’s LaGuardia Airport before their shifts ended on March 22, when an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck, killing both pilots, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Controllers allegedly left before crash
Officials told Reuters that the two FAA employees were supposed to be on duty when the accident occurred but had already left the facility.
The crash renewed scrutiny of staffing shortages and working practices within the US air traffic control system, with investigators examining whether adequate staffing was available at the time of the collision.
FAA vows to hold employees accountable
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it was discussing the allegations with FAA leadership but declined to comment further.
The FAA said it remained committed to holding employees accountable and would not compromise the safety or efficiency of the country’s airspace system.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said most controllers perform their duties well but argued that action was necessary when employees allegedly take advantage of the system and place additional pressure on colleagues.
“We will not tolerate fraud,” Duffy said, adding that appropriate action was being taken to prevent unlawful practices from affecting air travel.
Staffing practices under scrutiny
Several air traffic controllers interviewed by Reuters described the workload on the night of the crash as busy.
Controllers said it was common for additional staff to be brought in or for employees to remain beyond their scheduled shifts when flight volumes were higher than expected.
The FAA has also reportedly increased its focus on the practice known as “early shoves”, in which controllers leave before the official end of their shifts after completing assigned duties.
One controller said a nationwide push was underway to prevent employees from leaving on breaks near the end of their shifts without returning. Another said early departures had been common practice at some facilities for years.
The planned firings, also reported by The Wall Street Journal, add to the scrutiny facing US air traffic control practices following the fatal LaGuardia collision.