The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced plans to install tracking devices on all airfield vehicles at its major airports—LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport—following last month’s deadly collision involving a fire truck and an Air Canada Express jet that claimed the lives of two pilots.
The move comes after a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that LaGuardia’s ground radar system, ASDE-X, failed to issue a warning before the crash. Investigators noted that the fire truck involved was not equipped with a transponder, preventing the system from detecting it in time.
Officials confirmed that the Port Authority had already been testing transponders at Newark since late 2025, and will now expand the system across all three airports. The Federal Aviation Administration has long recommended such technology, with updated guidance issued recently to improve ground safety.
While investigators have not confirmed that the technology alone could have prevented the accident, the move highlights growing efforts to enhance runway safety. The probe into the March 22 incident remains ongoing, with further updates expected.