Two air traffic controllers left work early before fatal plane crash at LaGuardia

An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revealed that two air traffic controllers left their posts early before a fatal crash occurred at New York's LaGuardia Airport earlier this year. The incident on March 22 involved an Air Canada plane carrying 72 passengers and four crew members colliding with a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to six others.

Federal investigators discovered that the two air traffic controllers involved had clocked out approximately an hour before their shifts were scheduled to end. This premature departure left the remaining staff in the LGA control tower with a significantly increased workload and without adequate backup.

This practice of leaving early, known among controllers as 'early shove,' is reportedly common in the air traffic control industry, although the FAA classifies it as time card fraud. The newspaper reported that the FAA is currently in the process of dismissing both employees due to their actions on the night of the incident.

Internal sources also revealed that the agency has terminated the employment of over 10 air traffic controllers this year for alleged time card fraud and misuse of leave policies. On the night of the crash, LaGuardia Airport was reportedly handling double its usual air traffic volume, compounded by disruptions from a thunderstorm.

The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time after the fire truck was cleared to inspect a United Airlines plane that had aborted its takeoff due to a suspicious smell in the cabin. The vehicle then proceeded to cross the runway.