Safety Warnings at LaGuardia Airport Preceded Deadly Montreal Flight Collision
Months before a tragic collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport, pilots were already sounding alarms about safety concerns at the facility. In August 2025, one pilot filed a desperate plea following a near-collision incident, writing "Please do something" in a report to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System.
Pilot Reports Detailed Dangerous Conditions
The August 2025 report described an incident where another aircraft had been cleared for takeoff despite being dangerously close to the pilot's landing plane. The pilot explicitly warned that air traffic controllers at LaGuardia "are pushing the line" with safety protocols.
"On thunderstorm days, LGA is starting to feel like DCA did before the accident there," the pilot continued, referencing the January 2025 collision near Washington, D.C. that killed nearly 70 people.
Fatal Crash Brings Scrutiny
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, these warnings took on tragic significance when an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal crashed into a fire truck on the LaGuardia tarmac. The collision killed both pilots and hospitalized more than 40 people, marking what aviation experts describe as an unprecedented event.
"I haven't seen in my professional career anything like Sunday's fatal collision," said Hassan Shahidi, president of the U.S.-based Flight Safety Foundation. "There isn't a trend out there of emergency vehicles running into airplanes. That doesn't exist."
Pattern of Safety Incidents
Sunday's fatal crash represented the second collision on the LaGuardia tarmac in recent months. In October 2025, CNN reported that a collision between two regional jets on the runway sent one person to the hospital.
Additional safety reports from LaGuardia reveal a concerning pattern:
- July 2024: A near-collision occurred between an airplane cleared to cross a runway and another plane that had just landed. "Ground control issued a stop command just in time," the report stated.
- February 2025: A pilot reported a near mid-air collision with a helicopter, suggesting air traffic control should have allowed more separation between aircraft.
Systemic Issues Identified
Shahidi pointed to several systemic problems affecting LaGuardia's safety operations. While approximately 30 U.S. airports have technology allowing air traffic controllers to monitor ground vehicles alongside aircraft on their screens, LaGuardia has not yet implemented this tool.
"With two runways, LaGuardia is a small airport," Shahidi explained, noting that controllers must look out windows to track vehicle locations on the ground.
Additionally, a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers has created challenging working conditions. "With the shortage we have, controllers are working six-day weeks. They are working multiple shifts," Shahidi said. "You don't want your aircraft controllers to be fatigued doing their jobs."
Broader Aviation Safety Context
Shahidi emphasized that each aviation accident is unique, but acknowledged broader concerns in the U.S. aviation system. "In recent years, there were some significant issues in the U.S.," he said. "We've seen some close calls at various airports."
While dangerous incidents have decreased recently thanks to improved monitoring capabilities at smaller airports, the LaGuardia tragedy has prompted renewed examination of safety protocols, staffing levels, and technological implementation across the aviation sector.
As investigators continue examining Sunday's fatal collision, the aviation community faces difficult questions about how to prevent similar tragedies despite prior warnings about safety concerns at one of America's busiest airports.
