Air Canada plane crash: NTSB probes air traffic control actions after LaGuardia Airport runway collision

Investigators in the United States are examining the actions of an air traffic controller as part of a wider probe into the fatal runway collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

The accident occurred shortly before midnight on March 22 (11:40 pm US local time) when a CRJ-900 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada Express struck a fire truck that was crossing the runway while the plane was landing. The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members.

The collision killed the pilot and first officer and left several passengers injured, with nine people hospitalised with serious injuries. The crash also forced major operational disruptions at the airport, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations.
NTSB investigation focuses on controller actions

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it intends to interview an air traffic controller who was managing another emergency shortly before the crash.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters at LaGuardia that the controller’s actions would form an important part of the investigation.

Also Read: Air Canada plane crash: Pilots killed in firetruck collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, several injured

“It’s pretty traumatic for that air traffic controller as well,” she said, as per news agency Reuters. “We’ll want to interview that air traffic controller as well as others that were in the tower.”

Investigators have reportedly recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the aircraft and will analyse them to determine what led to the collision.

Air safety experts cited by Reuters said communication between the aircraft, the control tower and emergency vehicles on the runway would be a critical focus of the inquiry.

Separate emergency before crash

Audio recordings from LiveATC.net indicate that the controller who cleared Air Canada Flight 8646 to land had been dealing with a separate situation involving a United Airlines aircraft, as per Reuters.

The United flight had reported a strong odour on board that had sickened flight attendants, prompting the pilots to declare an emergency and decide not to continue flying.

Fire trucks responding to that aircraft had reportedly been cleared to cross Runway 4 by the same controller shortly before the Air Canada jet arrived.

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“Stop, truck one, stop,” the controller said shortly after approving the crossing, moments before the aircraft struck the fire vehicle.

In a separate audio clip cited by Reuters, the controller, sounding shaken, later told another pilot: “I messed up.” The pilot responded, “Nah man, you did the best you could.”

Airport disruption and staffing debate

The crash triggered widespread disruption, with about 572 flights cancelled — more than half of LaGuardia’s normal daily operations. The Federal Aviation Administration said the runway where the accident occurred would remain closed until Friday, March 27, as per Reuters.

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of staffing levels at major US airports. Reuters reported that some pilots say it is not unusual for one controller to manage both tower and ground duties at busy airports during overnight shifts.

However, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rejected concerns about staffing shortages, stating that LaGuardia has 33 controllers working at a facility designed for 37.

Meanwhile, investigators continue analysing flight data and communications as they work to determine the sequence of events leading to the deadly collision.

Also Read: Air Canada plane crashes at New York’s LaGuardia Airport: Here’s what the authorities said