The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced new details of the New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) plane crash on March 24. It was revealed that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) fire truck involved in the accident did not have a key transponder, which caused the “runway incursion warning system” to fail to trigger an alarm. The preliminary investigation indicates potential multiple systemic errors leading to the accident, rather than individual negligence.
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy stated at a press conference held at LaGuardia Airport on March 24 that the fatal accident on the evening of Sunday, March 22, exposed several flaws in airport ground safety management and air traffic control operations.
Homendy noted that it is still unclear which controller was responsible for the ground control work at the time. There were conflicting pieces of information; some indicating it was the controller-in-charge while others pointed to the local controller, showing internal confusion at the control tower before the accident occurred.
She emphasized that it is premature to blame individual air traffic control personnel. “Aviation accidents are often the result of multiple errors and pressure factors stacking up, and currently, no possibilities are being ruled out.” The investigation covers aspects such as runway scheduling, communication procedures, and air traffic controller workload.
On the equipment side, the absence of the transponder in the fire truck is considered a major safety gap. Homendy stated, “Air traffic controllers should have a clear understanding of the location of all objects on the runway and in the airspace, whether aircraft or ground vehicles.” She bluntly said, “Should the fire truck be equipped with a transponder? The answer is definitely yes.”
It is understood that some airports in the United States have fire trucks equipped with transponders. However, in this incident, the involved vehicle in LaGuardia did not have this equipment, causing the tower radar to be unable to clearly display its location and preventing the runway incursion warning system from automatically issuing an alert.
Furthermore, investigators are unsure whether the two Port Authority officers on the fire truck heard the urgent call from the tower before the collision, “Stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop!” Both officers survived the accident, with one discharged from the hospital and the other still hospitalized, awaiting further interviews.
The accident occurred at around 11:40 p.m. on March 22 when Air Canada Express flight AC8646 (CRJ-900 aircraft) from Montreal to New York was landing on Runway 4 and collided with a Port Authority fire truck that was crossing the runway, preparing to handle a report of an odor in another aircraft cabin.
The impact resulted in severe damage to the aircraft’s nose, leading to the death of the captain and first officer on the spot. Among the 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board, more than 40 were injured. A senior flight attendant was thrown out of the aircraft along with her seat but miraculously survived, albeit with severe injuries and in stable condition.
Aviation safety experts pointed out that the accident not causing more extensive casualties was “almost a miracle.” Preliminary data indicates that the aircraft was traveling at a speed of approximately 93 to 105 miles per hour upon impact, but crucial areas such as the wing fuel tanks or engines were not affected, averting potential explosions and fires.
The investigation team has retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and is conducting analysis at a laboratory in Washington, focusing on communication records and runway usage arrangements at the time of the accident.
Additionally, there are reports indicating that several months before the accident, pilots had raised concerns through a safety reporting system about the overly dense air traffic control scheduling at LaGuardia Airport, particularly in high traffic or low visibility conditions, posing hidden risks.
Following the accident, LaGuardia Airport was temporarily shut down and only partially resumed operations on Monday afternoon. Over 600 flights were canceled or delayed, affecting other airports in the New York area. The involved runway remains closed, and it is expected to stay that way for several days for on-site inspections and cleanup.
This is the first fatal collision accident at LaGuardia Airport in 34 years. The NTSB stated that the investigation will focus on tower personnel assignment, ground vehicle tracking systems, runway safety warning mechanisms, and overnight shift staffing issues. The accident has once again raised concerns about the shortage of manpower and inadequate modernization of the US air traffic control system.
The investigation is ongoing, and more preliminary results are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Air Canada has expressed condolences to the families of the two deceased pilots and stated that they will fully cooperate with the investigation.