Sources: 2 Controllers Left Work Early Before Air Canada CRJ Collided With Truck

A critical investigation into the March 22, 2026, collision between an Air Canada Express CRJ and a fire truck revealed key personnel departures from LaGuardia Airport's control tower prior to the event. Two air traffic controllers, both employed at LaGuardia Airport, voluntarily departed their posts approximately five months before the incident occurred. The controllers’ early departure coincided with the arrival of an airport fire truck onto the active runway during the Air Canada flight’s landing sequence. This action contributed directly to the hazardous conditions leading up to the fatal crash involving the two pilots on board the CRJ aircraft. Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding these controller actions as part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic accident.