Air traffic controller admits ‘I messed up’ in harrowing audio from fatal collision

LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest transportation hubs in the nation, will be closed until 2 p.m.

Eastern Monday
An air traffic control dispatcher admitted "I messed up" , moments after an Air Canada plane's runway collision at LaGuardia Airport which killed two pilots, hospitalized dozens of passengers and caused travel chaos.

The pilot and copilot were killed Sunday night after landing in New York from Montreal with 76passengers onboard.

The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, collided with a fire truck which crushed the nose of the aircraft.

"Stop, stop, stop!" an air traffic control dispatcher is heard saying on an audio recording .

A voice then adds: "I messed up."
About 40 passengers and crew members were taken to nearby hospitals, some with serious injuries.

Most had been released by Monday morning, authorities said.LaGuardia Airport will be closed until at least 2 p.m.

Monday.

Operations were also halted Monday morning at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, due to a separate incident.

Air traffic controllers were forced to evacuate the tower over a burning smell from an elevator, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Recap: Air Canada passenger plane in deadly collision with fire struck at LaGuardia Airport
If you’re just joining us, here’s everything you need to know:
Data shows airplane collided with fire truck at a speed of over 100 mph
Even though the Air Canada flight decelerated as it touched down at LaGuardia Airport, it crashed into a fire truck on the runway at about 104 miles per hour, according to data from Flight Radar 24.

“Some major questions now about the interplay that took place between air traffic control and this flight,” CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean said.

“This was not some sort of fender bender at the airport between a vehicle and an airplane.

This was a high-speed collision,” Muntean said.

“Really symptomatic of an aviation system that is bursting at the seams right now.

Air traffic controllers are overworked, often working six-day weeks of 10-hour shifts.”
Trump on LGA collision: “They made a mistake.

It’s a dangerous business.

That’s terrible.”
President Donald Trump commented on the deadly crash to reporters in Florida Monday morning, according to The New York Times.

“They made a mistake.

It’s a dangerous business.

That’s terrible,” Trump said.

Trump officials scramble to explain ICE’s new role in airport security
As the LaGuardia response effort continues, the president has sent his ICE forces to bolster security at the nation’s other major airports following five weeks of partial government shutdown.

On Sunday, members of his cabinet hit the morning shows to talk up the policy.

John Bowden has this report on their messaging pitch.

Trump officials try to explain ICE’s role in airport security as TSA lines grow
Flight attendant found outside crashed aircraft still strapped to her jumpseat
A flight attendant was found outside the crashed Air Canada flight still strapped into her jumpseat, sources told NBC News.

It was not immediately clear whether the flight attendant was found with injuries.

Full story: LaGuardia Airport closed until Monday afternoon after fatal Air Canada crash
If you’re just joining us, here’s another chance to see our report on the tragic news from New York overnight, as a pilot and their co-pilot were killed in a collision with a fire truck at LaGuardia after completing a routine 90-minute journey to the Queens airport from Montreal.

Shweta Sharma and Paul Farrell have it.

We heard earlier from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and New York Governor Kathy Houchul.

Now New York City’s mayor and New Jersey Gov.

Mikie Sherrill have paid their respects.

Runway incursion incidents actually down year-on-year
According to the FAA, there were 97 runway incursions in January this year, compared to 133 incidents during the same period last year.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives last month proposed legislation to address 50 aviation safety recommendations issued after a year-long investigation into the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S.

Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Last year also saw a UPS cargo plane crash shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, killing seven and injuring 11 on the ground.

Flight found strapped to her seat outside plane, according to report
NBC News is reporting that a flight attendant was found still strapped to her jumpseat outside of the plane in the aftermath of last night’s incident by Port Authority Police, citing two sources.

One of the network’s sources said it appears the plane’s engines were off when the first responders arrived, which meant it was safe for them to open the rear exit and escort passengers to safety.

The two sources said the plane collided with the middle of the fire truck – causing the officers to be thrown from their vehicle – but enabling their survival.

We’ll bring you more details as they emerge.

Crash ‘likely a question of fatigue,’ says ex-NTSB managing director
Speaking to CNN’s This Morning with Audie Cornish, Peter Goelz said exhaustion was likely to have played a part in the tragedy.

“This is going to be a very important accident today because it underscores two of the most pressing aviation problems that the country is facing.

One is, there continues to be a shortage of air traffic controllers.

And the tower at LaGuardia, which is staffed by about 30 controllers, is targeted to get 60.

And now they’re not there.

So, the controllers who are working are working long hours, they’re getting overtime.

There is likely a question of fatigue.

“Secondly, when you – the fire truck that was on the ground has a transponder.

I listened to the audiotape very carefully.

And there was a lot going on at the airport at that time.

And as you could tell just from the portions we heard, the conversations were clipped and quick.

“The truck asked for permission to clear, cross runway four.

The read back was that they saw them at Runway 4.

I never heard the word ‘confirmed to cross,’ but it was apparent that the fire truck felt that they had the approval to go across.

This is going to be a very tough accident.”
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