A Republic Airways jet narrowly avoided disaster at LaGuardia as outdated tech and funding gaps spotlight dangerous cracks in U.S. aviation safety.
At a Glance
- A Republic Airways jet narrowly avoided collision with a United Airlines plane at LaGuardia Airport due to controller miscommunication.
- Despite advanced systems existing, only 35 of 525 U.S. airports have modern runway detection technology.
- Most U.S. airports still rely on outdated technology including copper wire, floppy disks, and binoculars.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing for modernization, with implementation targeted for 2028.
Another Near-Miss Exposes Stone Age Air Traffic Control
On May 6, a Republic Airways flight at New York’s LaGuardia Airport had to abort takeoff at high speed to avoid a United Airlines plane that was still crossing the runway. The near-collision was caused by air traffic controller miscommunication—one of whom admitted on radio, “Sorry, I thought United had cleared well before that.”
The shocking incident underscores a recurring concern in U.S. aviation: outdated control systems at hundreds of airports that still rely on binoculars, copper wiring, and even floppy disks. Despite LaGuardia having ASDE-X radar, human error nearly caused a deadly crash.
Watch a report: Near-Miss at LaGuardia: Tower Audio Released
System-Wide Failures and Delayed Modernization
The LaGuardia close call is part of a worrying trend. In 2023, the FAA recorded 22 serious runway incursions. Meanwhile, communications outages in Denver and Newark paralyzed operations for hours. Even United Airlines plans to cancel 35 daily flights at Newark due to persistent air traffic control failures.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the situation “unacceptable,” noting that modernization is on track—just not until 2028. Duffy also described the state of airport infrastructure as still running on “copper wire and floppy disks.”
A Debate Over Spending Priorities
Critics argue that while billions are funneled to foreign aid and social programs for undocumented immigrants, vital domestic safety systems remain dangerously underfunded. The contrast between flashy budget lines and basic aviation safety has sparked bipartisan concern about misplaced priorities in Washington.
In Duffy’s words: “This is not just a glitch—it’s a systemic risk. We can’t allow the technology that manages millions of lives daily to remain stuck in the last century.”
This renewed scrutiny could put pressure on lawmakers to reallocate funds toward critical infrastructure before the next incident proves fatal. As air traffic climbs post-pandemic, the need for fail-safes and 21st-century tools has never been clearer.
