LaGuardia Needed More Staff on Busy Night of Deadly Plane Crash

Air traffic controllers say additional staffing was required to handle heavy flight volume on the night of the Air Canada Express jet collision.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:24am

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According to several current and former US air traffic controllers, New York's LaGuardia airport was so busy the night before an Air Canada Express jet crashed, killing both pilots, that additional staff should have been brought in to help manage the heavy traffic. Weather-related delays resulted in 70 commercial flights taking off or landing at the airport between 10 p.m. and 11:37 p.m., when the crash occurred, compared to an average of 53 flights during that period on Sunday evenings.

Why it matters

The LaGuardia crash has revived concerns over high US controller workload, especially late at night, when staffing is typically limited to two people and one sometimes manages both active runways and ground vehicles at the airport. This incident highlights the need to ensure adequate staffing and procedures are in place to handle unexpected surges in air traffic, especially during inclement weather, to prevent future tragedies.

The details

Six of the controllers interviewed by Reuters described the workload as busy, and five said other controllers would typically be brought in or stay on past their normal shift end time to manage the heavier-than-scheduled number of flights. The busy situation was compounded by a United Airlines flight declaring an emergency over a bad odor, which led an air traffic controller to clear a fire truck to cross the runway to help before realizing it was in the Air Canada jet's path and unsuccessfully trying to stop it.

  • Between 10 p.m. and 11:37 p.m. on March 22, 2026, there were 70 commercial flights taking off or landing at LaGuardia Airport.
  • This compares to an average of 53 flights during the same period on Sunday evenings in March since 2022 and the 31 that had been scheduled for the night of the crash.

The players

Sean Duffy

US Transportation Secretary who said LaGuardia was well-staffed with 33 certified controllers and six in training, at a facility with a target of 37 controllers.

Jennifer Homendy

NTSB Chair who said it was too early to rule anything out as the cause of the crash, as air crashes are typically caused by multiple factors.

Ray Adams

A retired air traffic controller at nearby Newark airport in New Jersey who said it was not typical in his experience to combine positions at night when there was a heavy workload.

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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 NTSB probe will review relevant tower procedures at LaGuardia to determine if any changes are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical need for airports to ensure adequate staffing and procedures are in place to handle unexpected surges in air traffic, especially during inclement weather, in order to maintain safe operations and prevent future tragedies.