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US air traffic controllers left work early before fatal crash. The FAA wants them fired

The US Federal Aviation Administration is taking steps to fire two air traffic controllers determined to have left their shifts early before an Air Canada…

By Samantha Johnson / August 27, 2026

The US Federal Aviation Administration is taking steps to fire two air traffic controllers determined to have left their shifts early before an Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in March, according to people familiar with the matter.

The moves are in keeping with a broader push by the Trump administration to crack down on controllers leaving shifts early or abusing sick leave, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous because the information is not public.

“The FAA is committed to holding employees accountable, and we will not compromise the safety or efficiency of the National Airspace System,” the agency said in an emailed statement.

The regulator said it was meanwhile staffing up its controller workforce through hiring.

So-called early shoves are a long-standing, informal practice where supervisors give controllers permission to leave early during slow periods, while still giving them full pay.

The wreckage of an Air Canada Express jet that collided with a ground vehicle is seen at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in March. Photo: Reuters
The wreckage of an Air Canada Express jet that collided with a ground vehicle is seen at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in March. Photo: Reuters

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Thursday that the agency was conducting a broader review of alleged timecard fraud and was moving to fire the two controllers.

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