Two air traffic controllers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport reportedly leave the control tower about an hour early on March 22, the night a fatal collision involves an Air Canada jet and a fire truck crossing the runway. According to a government official cited by multiple outlets, the FAA is moving toward firing the two controllers.
The reports say the controllers’ early exit is linked to an FAA review that finds they clocked out before the end of their scheduled shift. Several outlets describe an informal practice sometimes used during slower periods, in which supervisors give controllers permission to leave early while maintaining full pay. Other coverage focuses on the potential disciplinary action, framing the issue as whether the early departure was appropriate and compliant with regulations.
While all outlets agree on the core allegation and the FAA’s disciplinary posture, they vary slightly in emphasis: some highlight the purported “early shoves” practice, while others focus more directly on the FAA’s intent to terminate the controllers. All reporting ties the event to the March 22 runway incident in which two pilots die and additional people are injured.
