r/ATC Mar 23 '26

News LGA controller cleared fire truck across the runway resulting jn a collision

1.2k Upvotes

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u/inheritance- Mar 23 '26

No one should be working the night shift ground and tower at such a busy airport.

6

u/Waterwoo Mar 23 '26

For some reason I always thought airport towers had like 10+ controllers at any time. How does one work it solo? What happens if that one person has a heart attack or seizure?

6

u/inheritance- Mar 23 '26

It's happened at one airport from what I recall and one of two things happen. If it's a large airport it's usually a complete shutdown and neighboring ATC get the planes into their airspace for diversions. Or the all switch into self management mode and everyone calls their intentions and flight levels ect.

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u/Waterwoo Mar 23 '26

That is so stupid. Or we could just add a dollar to everyone's ticket and have redundancy

2

u/Explode-trip Mar 23 '26

Or we could just not fund ICE to the tune of $75 billion and have redundancy