Post date: Mar 25, 2011 6:0:52 PM
The U.S. aviation chief is "outraged" after an air traffic controller fell asleep on the job, leaving planes to land in Washington without airport guidance.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 24, 2011) NBC - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's chief Randy Babbitt said in an interview on Friday (March 25) that he was very disturbed that an air traffic controller fell asleep at the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
"I'm outraged that this happened. I've flown in this airspace for 25 years as an airline pilot, I have never seen anything like this. And that's why were gonna investigate it and that's why we're gonna get to the bottom of it, " Babbitt said.The air traffic controller told U.S. investigators on Thursday (March 24) that he had fallen asleep on the job, leaving two jetliners to land without any airport guidance.
Audio received from the website www.liveatc.net reveals flight crews tried to raise the airport tower on the radio for runway and landing instructions. The air controller then blamed his absence on faulty equipment.
"Yeah someone had a stuck mic. The tower is back in business, so normal ops," the air controller said.
The two flights -- one operated by United Airlines and the other by American Airlines -- landed without incident at Ronald Reagan National Airport early Wednesday (March 23).
Aviation Safety Consultant Capt. John Cox said he didn't believe anyone was in real danger.
"Was there a danger to the passengers or the crew, no, I think they were completely safe," Cox said.
The unidentified 20-year veteran was suspended while the incident is being reviewed.
The controller, a supervisor, told NTSB investigators who interviewed him he fell asleep for a period of time on duty, the board said in a preliminary report on the incident.
The controller told the NTSB it was his fourth straight overnight shift and he was alone in the tower. Radio contact was lost for more than 20 minutes, the NTSB said.
The incident at the airport in the shadow of the Pentagon and across the Potomac River from the White House upset official Washington, which is sensitive to any lapse in aviation operations since the Sept. 11, 2001, hijack attacks. A small plane crashed into the White House grounds in 1994.