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Photo by Spencer Platt /Getty ImagesThe U.S. 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.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe move is 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 isn’t 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’s meanwhile staffing up its controller workforce through hiring.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againSo-called early shoves are a longstanding, informal practice where supervisors give controllers permission to leave early during slow periods, while still giving them full pay.“When a small percentage of individuals take advantage of the American taxpayer, unfairly add additional work to their fellow controllers, and impact the airspace — we have no choice but to act,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “We will not tolerate fraud, and we are taking appropriate action to hold folks accountable and prevent unlawful practices from disrupting the travelling public.”The two pilots on the Air Canada Express plane, operated by Jazz Aviation LP, died as a result of the crash at LaGuardia on March 22. The aircraft, which took off from Montreal, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew. The plane hit a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey fire truck after touching down shortly before midnight and came to a standstill about halfway down the runway. An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 remains on the runway Tuesday after colliding Sunday night with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago /Getty ImagesThe National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents controllers, said it’s actively discussing the allegations with FAA leadership.“We believe those discussions are the appropriate forum for addressing the matter,” the association said.A representative for the National Transportation Safety Board said the case is still under active investigation.The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Thursday that the agency is conducting a broader review of alleged timecard fraud and is moving to fire the two controllers.The tragedy at LaGuardia followed a string of fatal aviation disasters last year, including a midair collision between a regional commercial jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington that killed 67 people and a fiery United Parcel Service Inc. freighter crash that resulted in the deaths of 15 people on the aircraft and on the ground.LaGuardia is the New York region’s third-busiest airport and handles more than 30 million passengers a year. Poor weather had caused flight disruptions at the airport in the hours prior to the fatal accident.NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters during a March briefing that two controllers were guiding traffic from LaGuardia’s tower that evening. A total of four people were on duty at the time, though only two were in the so-called cab — the panoramic, glass-enclosed room atop the tower where air traffic controllers work, she said at the time, confirming a prior Bloomberg report.She said then that it was “standard operating procedure” at the airport to have two controllers in the tower cab for the “midnight shift,” and that they often performed combined duties normally handled by other controllers.The fire truck involved in the collision was responding to a different emergency on a United Airlines Holdings Inc. flight after pilots reported an unusual odour coming from the cabin. The truck, operated by two first responders, requested clearance to cross runway 4, where the Air Canada Express jet was due to land, and was given the go-ahead by air traffic control.Though shortly after, a controller could be heard telling the truck driver to stop. Later, what sounds like the same controller said, “I messed up,” when discussing the matter with another pilot.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.