2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly crash, AP source says

Two air traffic controllers could be fired for leaving the tower at New York's LaGuardia Airport regarding an hour early on the night that an Air Canada jet smashed into a fire truck crossing the runway, killing both pilots, according to a.

What happened

For context, the official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter due to the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the March 22 crash and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Friday.

Since the two controllers left work early that night, there were only two residents left in the tower to direct an unusual flurry of flights while dealing with an emergency on another plane on the ground. The controllers who left could have provided crucial backup when the tower obtained busy if they had remained at the airport until the end of their shifts as they were scheduled to be there past when the crash happened, the official noted.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around 2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work an hour early before deadly point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.