Two flight controllers allegedly left work early before fatal Air Canada jet crash at LaGuardia Airport

Federal civil aviation agency eyeing disciplinary action

Published Aug 27, 2026  •  2 minute read

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on March 24, 2026 in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago /Getty Images

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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly taking steps to fire two air traffic ‌controllers who left work early before a fatal Air Canada jet collision at New ‌York City’s LaGuardia ⁠Airport in March.

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Two pilots of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 died in the March 22 crash after the jet hit a fire truck that was crossing the taxiway just after it landed at the airport.

The plane, arriving from Montreal, had 72 passengers and four crew members on board, with dozens of them injured, including a flight attendant who suffered serious injuries after the crash threw her in the air while still buckled in her seat.

An air traffic controller cleared the plane to land less than two minutes before a fire truck was instructed to cross the active runway.

The FAA is now eyeing disciplinary action against the pair of air traffic controllers who left their shift about an hour before the crash, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing sources close to the matter.

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According to the report, the two remaining staff at the LaGuardia tower were left without backup to assist with their workloads.

Clocking out early investigated as ‘timecard fraud’

Though air traffic controllers are permitted by supervisors to leave their shifts during slow periods with pay — an informal practice known as “early shoves” — the Wall Street Journal reported the FAA views it as timecard fraud and is conducting a broader review of the practice.

The two air traffic controllers in the LaGuardia crash are reportedly on leave, and are not currently responsible for controlling air traffic.

In a statement released to various news outlets, the FAA said it “is committed to holding employees accountable, and we will not compromise the safety or efficiency of the ⁠National Airspace System.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association — the U.S. union representing air traffic controllers — said in a statement obtained by various outlets that it is “actively discussing these allegations with FAA leadership.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing their investigation into the crash, although a preliminary report released in April found a number of problems, including communication issues, contributed to the disaster.

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