Months before the deadly collision between an Air Canada Express flight and a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, pilots had raised serious safety concerns about the airport’s operations. These warnings. According to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System, highlight the growing stress on U.S. airports, including LaGuardia, which is among the busiest in the country.

Runway Operations Under Scrutiny

A pilot using LaGuardia in the summer of 2025 reported to aviation authorities that air traffic controllers were failing to provide adequate guidance about nearby aircraft. The pilot wrote. “Please do something,” referring to the increasing pace of operations at the airport.

The pilot described how controllers were “pushing the line,” a phrase suggesting the airport was operating at or beyond its limits. The pilot also compared LaGuardia’s conditions to those at Ronald Reagan National Airport before a deadly mid-air collision over the Potomac River in January 2025, which killed more than 60 people.

In one specific instance. The pilot reported that a takeoff clearance was given to another aircraft when their plane was only 300 feet above the ground on a different runway. The pilot said they hesitated to take off due to thick smoke from wildfires in Canada and the possibility of a nearby helicopter.

Air Traffic Control and Safety Gaps

According to the pilot’s report. Air traffic control guidance at LaGuardia was unclear about how close aircraft could be in such situations. The pilot noted. “Based on today’s and close calls I have seen over the years for [runways at the Philadelphia and Newark international airports], it seems to be a [judgment] call by the local controller.”.

Another report from January 2025 described a pilot’s experience where their aircraft was cleared to cross a runway but encountered an incoming aircraft on runway 31C. The pilot said air traffic control should have redirected the incoming aircraft instead.

NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System has received dozens of anonymous complaints about safety concerns at LaGuardia. These reports come as federal investigators probe the recent deadly crash involving Air Canada Express flight 646.

Crash Investigation and System Strain

The collision on Sunday left two pilots dead and 41 others injured. According to officials. The fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a plane in distress, but However, the air traffic controller later tried to stop the truck but admitted, “I messed up,” according to a recording.

Experts warn that U.S. airports are under extreme stress due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and other personnel — Federal personnel cuts under the Trump administration have exacerbated this problem. Additionally, the partial government shutdown since mid-February has led to long security lines and a shortage of TSA screeners, with more than 450 officers resigning.

“We did not need another aviation tragedy to see this coming,” said aviation expert Brian Fielkow. He warned that the system is under strain, with TSA professionals working without pay and facing emotional and financial stress.

Federal investigators said it was too soon to answer many questions about the crash but promised more information would be released on Tuesday. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said investigators would analyze the involved airplane’s cockpit and flight data recorders, which were recovered undamaged.

Homendy noted that the runway where the crash occurred would likely remain closed for days as investigators sift through debris. She also mentioned that an NTSB investigator was delayed for three hours by security lines in Houston before being allowed through to LaGuardia.

The Trump administration has deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist with security at U.S. airports. Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator, said ICE agents would help with crowd management and line control.

However, hundreds of TSA agents have called in sick or quit their jobs rather than work without pay. The shutdown stems from a disagreement over funding for the TSA’s parent agency and immigration enforcement reforms.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declined to specify how many air traffic controllers were on duty at LaGuardia during the crash, deferring to the ongoing NTSB investigation. He denied rumors that the tower had only one controller on duty, stating that LaGuardia was “very well staffed” with 33 certified controllers and more in training.

Sunday’s incident was not the only collision at LaGuardia in recent months. In October, two Delta jets collided on a taxiway, sending one person to a hospital. In July 2024, a co-pilot reported a similar near-collision after controllers said a plane was cleared to cross the runway even though another aircraft was landing at the same time.

These repeated incidents raise serious concerns about the safety and management of U.S. airports, especially as the system faces increasing strain from staffing shortages and financial constraints.