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LaGuardia pilots raised safety alarms months before deadly runway crash
Nasa reports show repeated warnings of close calls before crash that killed two pilots and injured 41 others
TL;DR
- Pilot safety concerns at LaGuardia Airport were reported to aviation officials months before a deadly collision.
- NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System received anonymous complaints about inadequate air traffic control guidance and close calls.
- A pilot warned that LaGuardia's operations were becoming as risky as Ronald Reagan National Airport before a previous fatal accident.
- The recent crash killed two pilots and injured 41 people, involving an Air Canada Express flight and an airport firetruck.
- The incident has raised fears about US airport operations being under extreme stress due to controller shortages and aging equipment.
- A partial government shutdown has affected TSA staffing, with officers working without pay, leading to resignations and increased risk.
- Investigators are analyzing flight data recorders and the runway where the crash occurred, which is expected to be closed for days.
- The NTSB chair faced delays in reaching the crash site due to security lines at another airport.
- The Trump administration deployed ICE agents to assist with long security lines at some US airports.
- Hundreds of TSA agents have quit or called in sick due to working without pay during the shutdown.
- The Secretary of Transportation denied rumors of a single controller on duty at LaGuardia during the crash, stating the airport was well-staffed.
- Another incident in October involved a collision between two Delta jets on a taxiway at LaGuardia.
- A near-collision was also reported in July 2024 when a plane was cleared to cross a runway while another was landing.