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Talking with a controller friend, it's not all that uncommon for that time of night. Technically two controllers "on duty," with one off status resting while one controls the entire show. I know I've been at the busy early morning push in EWR and we couldn't raise anyone on clearance for a full route clearance. Jumped over the ground and the controller apologized, "I'm the only one here right now." Dude was reading full route clearance after full route clearance, then asking guys to read back only their squawk, because he was busty issuing taxi clearances. I assume he was issuing T/O and LND clearances as well, but I wasn't on that freq. Our controller staffing hasn't recovered from the hiring freeze during rona, among other reasons... I still have no idea why they won't accept military controllers who over >30, seems like they're leaving out some qualified candidates. Relatively small pool, but seems like a terrible policy with the current shortages.

One of my biggest issues with the current administration is their attacks on free press. We've all seen Trump's contempt for new organizations that attack him and while some of what they say is not true...the same goes for many things he says. There is a reason freedom of the press is in the First Amendment...the founders thought it was that important. As Edmund Burke stated, the Press is the 4th estate...a final check and balance outside the control of the government. Current efforts by this administration are horrific and I hope the courts continue to punch them in the face. For those not following the story below, Hegseth tried to limit which press organizations could freely roam the halls of the Pentagon...sounds odd but it has been going on for years and if you know anything about the Pentagon it is normal to see Barbara Star and others standing in line to get coffee or lunch down stairs. A federal Judge struct down previous restrictions so Hegseth is doubling down and moving EVERYONE outside...very ungood. The Pentagon Imposes New Restrictions on Journalists

I guess the Left would rather the Iranians progress to the point of North Korea, who are untouchable at this point. Too much artillery aimed at Seoul, nukes, and ICBMs. Only Iran has been even more aggressive at stirring up trouble and exporting violence abroad. God help us if they get nukes and ICBMs.

FAA said he 'wasn't the only controller on duty'. Statement is definitely not a denial of single ops.

Just had a crew talk about this happening more and more often as we heard about this crash. I know I've experienced single controller ops quite a bit in ANC. I can't say I'm surprised by people not wanting to enter that career field. Couple that to the government shutdowns and we've got a bad situation going on for our ATC brothers.

Buddy at UAL said the rumor going around is the controller was by himself doing ground and tower.

Totally valid point, in my fever dream this basic flight training would be on an AF base(s) or a flight college(s) Uncle Sam would buy

Ya gotta remember these flight academy instructors are civilian kids working towards their ATP rating and, none have ever been exposed to anything military. Right now, it's a 30 min brief, maybe a 15 to 30 min de-brief. It's an assembly line. What you're suggesting above might help, but I don't have the data. It would be a huge ask. If I were one of these young CFI's, I'd say GFY and go where there is a nice relaxed atmosphere to instruct.

Gotcha I’m curious to get more data / opinions on whether or not it is viewed as beneficial enough to get the 120 or so hours prior to T-6. I had a PPL paid for by the AF prior to UPT and my CFI was great but UPT and the experience of hitting Tweets was quite different than my PPL instruction. If this basic flight training were run like T-37s / T-6s, I wonder if it would improve the intermediate phase of UPT (T-6s in this hypothetical) by indoctrinating the students earlier to the culture of UPT (high standards, fast pace, honest feedback, etc…) but in aircraft and maneuvers less advanced, essentially building the mental capacity to handle stresses first in a less demanding environment, giving them an immunity to a degree then onto the next level. Not implying anything negative to the current students.

That's unreal. From the pictures I can't believe there were not more fatalities up front.

Was landing FA was thrown 330 feet from aircraft and survived with only broken leg.

These rates and discussions were based on other bases that were first to gain students from the new IPT pipeline. I believe the AETC Commander is out at Aeroguard Flight Academy in Phoenix today. My ears are to the ground as to what he passed on to the school and its newest 2nd LT arrivals. My mistake from previous post, the Chinese students at this school are either PLAAF or Air China, not Cathay Pacific. I know the politics that led to this becoming an issue but prefer not to relay.

Were they taking off or landing?

What a terrible and utterly preventable accident. Based on the go-around call for Delta, it sounds like the audio is the tower freq, so everyone should have been on the same freq. If that is the case, the truck might have been on freq long enough to hear the takeoff clearance. The pilots would have heard the ground controller give clearance for the truck to cross the runway on which they were taking off with plenty of time to reject. And the obvious problem of the controller giving clearance to cross while a plane is taking off. Even if they weren't on the same freq, the truck absolutely should have been looking and seen an airplane on the runway and starting to roll towards them. Would be tough for the pilots to visually recognize the incursion in time to actually stop, especially at night and having a hard time recognizing that the truck hadn't stopped at the stop bars. Anyone know if LGA has the runway status lights? Might have been too late in the takeoff roll to actually stop anyway since it's only a hundred feet or so from the stop bars to the runway center. Seems pretty lucky that only the pilots were killed. I'd have expected a fireball with a plane hitting a fire truck that far down the runway. Maybe they had initiated a reject so they started slowing.

Odd angle to see for the Firetruck but I am the only one that thinks the have some responsibility as well? I ALWAYS check final when cleared for takeoff and check both ways when cleared to cross.

Complete cluster! Very little margin for error in our profession. Speechless at the lack of discipline exhibited by controller and fire rescue driver in this crash. While this tragedy is not a military accident, it makes me hope that all of you here still serving our great nation, are ever vigilant.

Crazy and sad.

VIDEO-2026-03-23-11-05-05.mp4 Discretion if you need it.

Were there any other checkrides, events, etc… that have as high a failure rate?

There is a much bigger picture going on here and all actions point to neutering and cornering China in the long run. Russia is depleting its military on its own, Venezuela got the message, Cuba can’t turn their lights on and the Iranian regime will collapse. It’s fascinating watching nearly the entire Middle East come down on Iran. It wasn’t long ago when Iran held the cards via their proxies. The Middle East isn’t what it once was. Those of us that have been vacationing on the Air Force’s dime in the ME for a couple decades have seen the transformation. The most modern cities in the world are now in the Middle East. This war with Iran has been extremely uncomfortable to watch unfold. Servicemen and women have given their lives. The markets are getting crushed - although today looks promising. But, I’m ok with it understanding the bigger picture. This administration is tackling long lingering complex problems. It’s needed to be done for a very long time.

Pilot confirmed dead, looking at the front of the plane hard to believe others didn't perish. The ATC audio is very telling...Even when cleared to cross I still visually check.

Huh? 140Million barrels of Iranian oil are stranded at sea. the sanctions are to bring that oil to market. It is useless to engage the trolls, there is no discussion because they are single minded in their hate. Most of us have repeatedly said we don't like many things trump but he has done good things...no one is perfect, most certainly not our politicians. I saw what was in my opinion both good and bad with Biden/Obama/Bush/Clinton and was intellectually honest to admit those things. As most on this forum are in or were in the profession of arms it is stunning to find zero value in degrading and hopefully removing the single biggest purveyor of death and instability in the Middle East. The number of American lives lost or changed forever thanks to Iran should never be forgotten. If there is some short-term pain at the pump/economy to perhaps stabilize the Middle East and remove the biggest exporters of terror in the world, then I most certainly approve. Time will tell but at this point trying something different appears to be better than doing the same old thing like flying $1.6 billion in cash to Iran.

Huh? 140Million barrels of Iranian oil are stranded at sea. the sanctions are to bring that oil to market.

Looks like 2 fatalities and a few injured. Not good