Safety warnings preceded deadly LaGuardia crash
Warnings about safety risks at LaGuardia Airport were submitted by pilots months before a deadly runway crash that killed two pilots and injured 41 people, according to newly reviewed reports.
Documents from the Aviation Safety Reporting System, managed by NASA, show pilots had repeatedly flagged dangerous close calls involving aircraft and air traffic control instructions. One pilot reported that controllers authorized a plane to take off while another aircraft was only 300 feet above the runway during its landing approach.
The pilot described growing operational pressure at LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the United States, warning that air traffic control decisions were becoming increasingly risky. The report compared the situation to conditions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before a deadly mid-air collision in 2025.
Investigators are now examining Sunday’s crash involving Air Canada Express Flight 646 from Montreal, which collided with an airport fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway. The crash killed pilots MacKenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest and left dozens of passengers injured.
Audio recordings suggest the air traffic controller initially allowed the fire truck to cross before attempting to stop it moments later. The controller reportedly acknowledged making an error after dealing with an earlier emergency.
The accident has intensified concerns about pressure on U.S. aviation systems, including shortages of air traffic controllers and aging infrastructure. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are reviewing cockpit voice and flight data recorders recovered intact from the wreckage.
Officials say the affected runway may remain closed for several days as investigators examine debris and reconstruct events leading to the collision.
Recent incidents at LaGuardia have also raised alarm. In October, two Delta aircraft collided on a taxiway, while a separate near-miss in July involved a plane cleared to cross a runway as another aircraft was landing.
Authorities say it is too early to determine the exact cause of Sunday’s crash, but findings from the investigation are expected to shed light on whether earlier warnings could have prevented the tragedy.
