LaGuardia Staffing Under Scrutiny After Jet Collision, Document Reveals Procedure Breach

• Air traffic controller staffing at LaGuardia on the night of a jet-fire truck collision may have violated facility procedures by combining roles before midnight.
• The crash, which killed both pilots, has revived concerns over US air traffic control staffing shortages and controller workload.
• A 2023 LaGuardia Tower Standard Operating Procedures document, current in 2026, states positions should not be consolidated before midnight or 90 minutes after shift start.
• NTSB is investigating controller duties; it's unclear who performed ground controller tasks, with conflicting information.
• Weather delays led to 70 commercial flights between 10 p.m. and 11:37 p.m. on the crash night, higher than the average of 53.