LaGuardia Airport faced renewed safety scrutiny after a March 2026 collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a fuel truck, though experts say its runway safety record aligns with industry norms. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long prioritized reducing runway incursions, with 2023 seeing an 8% drop in such incidents nationwide. However, pilot reports highlight persistent issues at LaGuardia, including overburdened air traffic controllers and malfunctioning runway status lights, which failed to alert crews during the crash.

Investigators note the fuel truck lacked a transponder, a standard safety feature at most airports, complicating tracking efforts.