“Nasa’s Aviation Safety Reporting System has received dozens of anonymous pilot complaints about safety concerns at the smallest of New York’s three local airports.”

“The crash has raised fears that operations at US airports are under extreme stress. Airports have been dealing with a shortage of air traffic controllers, exacerbated by brutal federal government personnel cuts by Donald Trump’s administration at the start of his second presidency.”

“Airports have also grappled with ageing equipment and a shortage of security screeners owing to a partial government shutdown since mid-February, which has caused long security lines and frustration among travelers. More than 450 TSA officers have quit during the partial government shutdown, Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday.”

“Federal investigators said late on Monday it was too soon to answer many questions about Sunday’s deadly accident but promised more information would be released Tuesday.”

“Jennifer Homendy, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair whose agency is investigating Sunday’s crash, said investigators would analyze the involved airplane’s cockpit and flight data recorders, which were recovered from the wreck undamaged.”

“She said the runway where the crash happened was likely to be closed for days as investigators sift through a 'tremendous amount of debris'.”

“Homendy also said that an NTSB investigator sent to LaGuardia on Monday was delayed for three hours by security lines in Houston.”

“The Trump administration has sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to many US airports, claiming they are there to help with long pre-security lines.”

“Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have called in sick or quit their jobs rather than be forced to work without pay amid the shutdown.”

“Sean Duffy, the US transportation secretary, on Monday declined to say how many controllers were on duty at LaGuardia when Sunday’s crash happened, deferring instead to the ongoing NTSB investigation.”

“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.”