How Many Air Traffic Controllers Are Needed Overnight? NYT | Top Stories Karoun Demirjian 29 March 2026 at 17:01 The accident at LaGuardia has raised questions about whether the minimum standard of two air traffic controllers on overnight shifts is sufficient. © Adam Gray/Associated PressThe air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport in New York. LaGuardia operates under a noise-abatement curfew from midnight to 6 a.m., which discourages airlines from scheduling flights during that window.