NTSB Struggled to Get Investigators to Fatal LaGuardia Crash Site

Partial government shutdown caused long TSA lines, delaying the investigation into the deadly plane-firetruck collision.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the March 22 fatal collision between an Air Canada plane and a Port Authority firetruck at LaGuardia Airport was delayed because the specialists needed to investigate were stuck in their respective cities due to long Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security lines at airports across the country caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown. NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the agency had to 'beg' the TSA to get one investigator through the security line in Houston.

Why it matters

The delay in the NTSB investigation into the deadly LaGuardia crash highlights the broader impacts of the partial government shutdown, which has caused significant travel disruptions and staffing challenges for federal agencies like the TSA. This is the latest example of how political gridlock can hamper critical safety investigations and the ability to quickly determine what went wrong in a major transportation incident.

The details

According to Homendy, one NTSB investigator was stuck in Houston for three hours waiting in a TSA security line before the agency was able to intervene and get the person through. Homendy herself drove from Washington, D.C. to New York, saying 'It has been a really big challenge to get the entire team here.' Some team members were not expected to arrive until around 1 a.m. on March 24, delaying the start of the on-site investigation.

  • The fatal plane-firetruck collision occurred around 11:40 p.m. local time on March 22.
  • NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy spoke at a press conference on March 23.
  • Some NTSB investigators were not expected to arrive at the crash site until around 1 a.m. on March 24.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

The chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Antoine Forest

One of the two pilots who died in the crash.

Solange Tremblay

A flight attendant who survived being ejected from the aircraft during the collision.

Rebecca Liquori

A 35-year-old passenger who recalled feeling the impact of the collision.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The agency that operated the firetruck involved in the collision with the Air Canada plane.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.