Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the details in the NTSB preliminary accident report about the March 22, 2026 fatal collision between an Air Canada Jazz regional jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. The preliminary report offers a detailed timeline of the key events in the minutes before the accident.

The airliner struck a fire truck that was leading six other emergency vehicles across an active runway to deal with an emergency situation. The fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway. Shortly before the truck entered the runway, a controller ordered the fire truck to stop, but the truck entered the runway and collided with the airliner.

John has four key questions that he wants the NTSB to address in the final report:

1. Why didn’t airport authorities equip their emergency vehicles with transponders that would have given the controllers a more precise location of every vehicle?
2. Could the fire truck have stopped before reaching the runway?
3. Was the control tower communicating effectively?
4. Are the warning lights on the runway effective for separating aircraft from vehicles crossing the runway?

In this recording of April’s livestream, Todd Curtis and John Goglia focus on all things related to aviation mechanics. John and Todd just completed their participation at the latest AMC MRO maintenance competition and they share the unique perspectives on the past, present and future of A&P mechanics.

👉 Hear what more than 500 competitors from across the globe achieved at the 2026 Aerospace Maintenance Council competition.
👉 Understand how the current shortage will impact everyone from the largest airlines to general aviation pilots.
👉 Hiring! A&P mechanic skills are valued in aviation and many other industries.
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John and Todd also have an update on the recent accident at LaGuardia airport. The focus is on the roles played by air traffic controllers and transponders for managing ground traffic.
Flight Safety Detective channel members participated live and had questions about Air India 171 and much more!

Todd Curtis and John Goglia did some digging beyond the official investigation of the tragic March 22, 2026 collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada regional jet and an airport fire truck operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

This incident raises serious questions about airport ground safety—and what they have found may surprise you.

John digs into critical factors that could have contributed to the accident, including:
– Why the fire truck may not have been visible on radar
– How the lack of a transponder on emergency vehicles can create blind spots
– Whether runway lighting and visibility played a role
– The potential impact of color vision on interpreting critical warning signals

Despite having ground surveillance systems in place, air traffic controllers reportedly saw only two targets instead of seven separate vehicles.

So what went wrong? Could something as simple as visibility—or even color perception—have made the difference between a safe crossing and a fatal mistake?

This is a must-watch breakdown for pilots, aviation professionals, and anyone interested in how complex systems can fail under pressure.
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👉 Watch now to understand the hidden risks on the runway—and what this accident could mean for the future of airport safety.

A national Job Satisfaction Survey is being conducted by Carol Valentino-Barry, Founder of Mentoring Mission, as part of ongoing research to better understand the lived experience of working aircraft mechanics and strengthen future training pathways.

FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technicians are invited to participate in a short, anonymous survey.
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Survey details:

• Time: 5 minutes
• Format: 45 questions
• Privacy: No personal data collected
• Deadline: May 15, 2026

Input from working technicians will help:

• Align training with real-world expectations
• Strengthen the aviation maintenance pipeline
• Inform future workforce development efforts

Are rising airport fees quietly reshaping the future of pilot training and harming aviation safety?

Controversial proposed landing fee increases at two airports in Mesa, Arizona could have ripple effects nationwide as more airports adopt user fees. What may look like a routine pricing update could significantly impact flight schools, student pilots, and the overall pilot training environment.

John Goglia, Greg Feith and Todd Curtis dive into a critical safety concern. As costs rise, pilots may shift training to less expensive, uncontrolled airports where they will miss out on essential real-world experience communicating with air traffic control. That tradeoff could have real safety implications.

John brings insider perspective from his work with airport authorities, revealing how fee structures don’t always align with the needs of pilots and aviation businesses. Together, the hosts explore how local financial decisions can unintentionally alter training quality, traffic patterns, and ultimately, aviation safety.
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If you care about the future of flight training, airport policy, or aviation safety, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

The aviation industry is facing a critical challenge—the growing shortage of aviation mechanics. Todd Curtis and John Goglia break down what’s driving it and why it matters now more than ever.

From an aging workforce to surging global demand for air travel, the need for skilled technicians is reshaping the future of aviation careers.

Go inside the high-energy Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), where students, military teams, and industry pros compete head-to-head in real-world technical challenges. Top employers are also there actively scouting their next hires.

As airlines boost pay to attract talent, general aviation is feeling the strain. This has led to maintenance delays and impacts on flight training. Todd and John explore what this means for the broader industry and why now might be the perfect time to enter the field.
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If you’re curious about aviation careers and the future of air travel, this episode offers a compelling look at where the industry is headed and how you can be part of it.

Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis take you inside the critical first day of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. Using the recent runway collision at LaGuardia Airport as a case study, they break down the unique challenges investigators face from the moment an accident occurs.

You’ll hear how the NTSB “Go Team” mobilizes—often from different corners of the country—and what happens when key personnel are delayed. Greg shares insights from his experience as an Investigator in Charge (IIC), including supporting leadership on scene and preparing officials for high-stakes press briefings where every word matters.

Get insider insight that only Greg and John can provide:
⚠️Why public communication must be precise, fact-based, and carefully controlled
⚠️How early decisions determine which parties join the investigation
⚠️When and why an accident investigation can shift into a criminal case
⚠️The evolving roles of agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Hear the behind-the-scenes information from TWA Flight 800 crash and the ValuJet Flight 592 crash that shows how complex, resource-intensive investigations uncover critical truths that aren’t always visible on day one.
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Whether you’re an aviation professional, safety enthusiast, or just curious about how major investigations unfold, this episode offers a rare, insider perspective.