NTSB Cites TSA Lines for Delayed LaGuardia Crash Probe

Federal investigators say the government shutdown complicated their investigation into the fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:30am

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The National Transportation Safety Board said long security lines at other airports held up the arrival of more than two dozen specialists assigned to investigate the fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said some investigators were not expected to reach New York until early Tuesday, and the agency had to "beg" the TSA to move one investigator ahead after a three-hour wait in Houston.

Why it matters

The NTSB investigation is crucial to determining the cause of the LaGuardia crash and implementing any necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The delays caused by the federal government shutdown have complicated the agency's ability to conduct a thorough and timely probe.

The details

Homendy said the NTSB investigation will cover the plane's operations, examinations of its components, and the flight control system. Investigators are also collecting surveillance video and seeking an Airport Surface Detection Equipment replay of the accident. They are checking preliminary information about air traffic controller staffing, including sign-in sheets and time cards.

  • The fatal collision occurred at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
  • LaGuardia Airport reopened to flights on Monday afternoon.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Transportation Security Administration

The federal agency responsible for airport security.

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What they’re saying

“We will be looking at that—where we can see where the aircraft was at certain times and whether the truck was visible on ASDE.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

“There are sign-in sheets. We have to do interviews. We have to look at time cards.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

What’s next

The NTSB investigation is ongoing, and the agency has requested additional information from the Federal Aviation Administration to aid their probe.

The takeaway

The delays caused by the federal government shutdown have complicated the NTSB's ability to conduct a thorough and timely investigation into the fatal LaGuardia crash, highlighting the broader impact of political dysfunction on critical safety and infrastructure issues.