The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported conflicting information in the LaGuardia Airport control tower logs regarding ground-control duties during the runway collision on March 22. Investigators have not determined which controller managed aircraft and vehicle movement moments before an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 struck a Port Authority firefighting vehicle, killing both pilots and injuring over 40 people.
Unclear Ground-Control Roles and Tower Log Discrepancies
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy explained that tower records contain inconsistencies in dates and times, complicating the investigation. Two controllers—a local controller and a controller in charge—were present in the tower, but it remains uncertain which was handling ground control during the incident. This dual-role setup is typical for overnight shifts but has raised concerns about potential fatigue-related risks.
The NTSB noted this ambiguity as central to understanding how the fire truck was cleared onto Runway 4 shortly before the collision. According to preliminary cockpit voice recordings, the fire truck received clearance to cross the runway about 20 seconds before impact, followed by frantic orders to stop seconds later, which were ineffective.
Limitations in Airport Surface Monitoring Systems
The lead firefighting vehicle lacked a transponder, restricting tracking capabilities for air traffic controllers and airport surface detection systems. The airport’s ASDE-X surface monitoring system did not issue an alert during the event due to the close proximity of vehicles merging on the runway, making it unable to generate a high-confidence track.
Flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered and are under analysis. Interviews with air traffic controllers involved were scheduled to begin immediately after the briefing. The NTSB cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing that investigations of this scale rarely trace an accident to a single failure.
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