Two Controllers Reportedly Left Early Before Fatal Crash

Two air-traffic controllers at LaGuardia left their shifts early before a runway crash that killed two pilots in March, people familiar with the federal investigation tell the Wall Street Journal. The FAA found that the two controllers went home with about an hour left on their shifts, according to the story. The agency is reportedly moving to fire the pair. Current and former controllers say it's not uncommon for controllers to head out early, a practice called an "early shove." But on the night of the March 22 deadly crash, LaGuardia was handling twice its usual volume of air traffic.

In the incident, two pilots of an Air Canada passenger jet were killed when their plane struck a fire engine that had been errantly sent in their path. (A lack of tracking equipment on such emergency vehicles may have been a factor.) The NTSB is still investigating the incident but has yet to conclude whether staffing issues played a role. As for those "early shoves," the Trump administration has been cracking down: More than 10 controllers have faced termination efforts this year over alleged timecard or leave abuses.