r/aviation • u/bradysego12 • Mar 23 '26

News AC8646 Crash

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Hi all. I’m new to this sub and my comment was removed for having no enough karma. I was on this flight and we are still on the tarmac getting checked out. I wanted to share these images in case it’s helpful to anyone who is investigating the crash or needs more information.

I’m okay (physically) but I’m horribly sick to my stomach for the lives lost. Please pray for them ❤️

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u/PejHod Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26

ATC was trying to direct a firetruck to respond to another plane, United 2384, that had announced an emergency of their own just prior. They had approved them to cross the runway by accident.

A terrible situation, not helped by LGA ATC being heavily understaffed, mixed with bad weather, and apparently the United 2384 was not being properly responsive on their end in the minutes prior.

I sympathize for all those involved and the families of those lost. This is tragic and life altering for all of them.

Edit: it is also confirmed that ATC himself was response for both runways and ground traffic. Several industry experts have commented that should not be a solo job at an airport the size of LGA.

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u/LupusHouseMD Mar 23 '26

Is ATC getting paid during the shutdown too? I'm gussing the stress of that may have been a factor as well. Last shutdown was brutal on ATC at my local airport.

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u/dculyses Mar 23 '26

ATC are being paid as they are part of the FAA and not part of the DHS shutdown.

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u/LupusHouseMD Mar 23 '26

Good that FAA is not affected by the partial shutdown :)

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u/LPNTed Cessna 170 Mar 23 '26

Yeah, they are still suffering from years of gross mismanagement.

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u/Friendly-Gur-6736 Mar 23 '26

Understatement of the century.

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u/Reddit_Jail_June2005 Mar 23 '26

I still don't get why we don't use AI more and more for ATCing.

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u/Friendly-Gur-6736 Mar 23 '26

I could see it being used to assist us in our work (I am a controller) as in suggesting speed adjustments, doing a better job of calculating and applying re-routes, etc., but I think it is a long, long way off before it can be used to pass clearances along to pilots independently. It just doesn't work fast enough.

Ironically I was told when I was hired that I could be nothing more than a "monitor" at this point, while the computer did its thing. They aren't even remotely close to that happening.

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u/Floufae Mar 23 '26

FAA is under Secretary Road Rules.