There’s no evidence the shutdown contributed to the collision; air traffic controllers, unlike TSA agents, are still paid during this partial shutdown. Plane struck fire truck on runwayFewer than three minutes elapsed between the Air Canada flight being cleared to land and its collision with the fire truck. It wasn’t, however, equipped with a transponder, which would have allowed air traffic controllers to track the vehicle’s movement along the tarmac. The other was the controller-in-charge, who oversees the safety of all air traffic operations. “This is not your fault,” Murphy said directly to the air traffic controllers.

Source: CNN March 26, 2026 01:37 UTC