Former NTSB investigator on LaGuardia crash: Did controller lose ‘situational awareness’?

A jet collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York late Sunday, killing people in the crash. Former NTSB investigators examining the incident say air traffic control lapses in "situational awareness" — the ability to track aircraft and ground vehicles in real time — are likely to be central to their investigation. Such collisions are rare at major U.S. airports, where ground and airside operations are typically segregated through strict protocols and communication procedures. The focus on controller awareness suggests investigators will examine whether standard procedures broke down or whether the controller failed to monitor aircraft and ground vehicle movements simultaneously. The NTSB investigation will determine whether human error, equipment failure, or procedural gaps contributed to the crash.