https://ix.cnn.io/dailygraphics/graphics/20260323-laguardia-collision-timeline/media/22475965-distro.mp4

What a waste of two young lives. RIP.

What is going on with ATC in the US? Such an avoidable accident.

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

What is going on with ATC in the US? Such an avoidable accident.

Since Doge cuts, their at half Staff!

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

What is going on with ATC in the US? Such an avoidable accident.

Apparently, the controller was responsible for both ground and tower. He was dealing with an emergency aircraft on the ground while singlehandedly controlling all movements at a very busy airport. Totally unexceptible. One person can only deal with so much before becoming totally task saturated. 

It seems nuts that a single controller was handling multiple things at LGA.  Some people referred to it as "middle of the night" but it was before midnight at LGA.  It is human error, but you can see how busy things can get and how easily a mistake can happen.  You set people up for failure, that's what you are going to get.  

A bunch of close calls that could have been disaster, a helicopter hitting a plane and killing a small plane full of people, and now this?  There won't be outrage though, as it will just be written off as human error with no mention of the underlying factors that are contributing to this.  What is going on here is a mix of fear and apathy.  When everyone is shouting at max volume every minute of every day, nothing stands out above the rest.  

Edited March 24Mar 24 by kerosene31

1 hour ago, Torkermax said:

Since Doge cuts, their at half Staff!

That's complete nonsense. DOGE did not cut ATC staff.

Now that we've cleared that up, this is clearly human error on the part of the ATC ground controller and/or the fire truck driver.  None of us know the exact circumstances, whether the ground controller was overwhelmed and should have had help, or simply screwed up.

Let's see what the investigation reveals.

Dave

 

Shake my head!  🤨

Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommended, and the Trump administration executed, cuts to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff in February 2025, including personnel supporting air traffic control (ATC). While direct frontline air traffic controllers were largely exempted from buyouts, staff managing critical systems, safety, and training were terminated.

Now that's been cleared up....what other B.S facts do you want to put out there?

1 hour ago, Torkermax said:

Since Doge cuts, their at half Staff!

Profit before safety? 🙄

29 minutes ago, charliearon said:

Shake my head!  🤨

Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommended, and the Trump administration executed, cuts to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff in February 2025, including personnel supporting air traffic control (ATC). While direct frontline air traffic controllers were largely exempted from buyouts, staff managing critical systems, safety, and training were terminated.

Now that's been cleared up....what other B.S facts do you want to put out there?

Approximately 400 FAA staff were cut, and that did not include air traffic controllers.  About 45,000 people work at the FAA.

Anybody with half a brain knows that most agencies have a lot of unproductive and redundant staff, even in the private sector.

Are you really going to try and blame this incident on DOGE or whatever, when you don't even know all the facts?

Your bias is so egregious and blatant.  Why you are allowed to be an administrator on this site is beyond me.

Dave

Edited March 24Mar 24 by dave2013

The rest of the world looks on in awe.
There are other countries by the way.

1 hour ago, dave2013 said:

Your bias is so egregious and blatant.  Why you are allowed to be an administrator on this site is beyond me.

Dave

You seem to have a big problem with people who don't share your opinions Dave.

You do realise that the very same accusations you level at others can be applied to yourself?

2 hours ago, james42 said:

Apparently, the controller was responsible for both ground and tower. He was dealing with an emergency aircraft on the ground while singlehandedly controlling all movements at a very busy airport. Totally unexceptible. One person can only deal with so much before becoming totally task saturated. 

Totally agree James.  I'm not sure anyone could have adequately handled all the tasks the said ATC was dealing with.  We've all seen news segments on how stressful the ATC job is, I can't imagine.  ATC is not a job I could ever have done with my adult attention deficit syndrome.

Politics aside, we, the USA, need more ATCs, especially at busy airports such as LGA.  Maybe ground traffic controllers communicating with ATCs at such large airports is called for too. 

RIP to the young pilots and prayers for the injured flight attendant. 

Some of you people have no shame. At any opportunity, you can't control yourselves and get involved in political garbage.

 

Show some respect, people are dead! 

 

The truth is, the US ATC system needs to be overhauled in every aspect, shape, and form. 

4 hours ago, Torkermax said:

Since Doge cuts, their at half Staff!

WRONG! DOGE did not cut ATC staffing