The air traffic controller involved in the radio silence incident at Reagan National Airport fell asleep as planes approached the airport for landing, the National Transportation Safety Board says.
The controller, who had 20 years experience, 17 of those at Reagan, told officials he had fallen asleep for a period of time while on duty, according to an NTSB statement. The controller was working his fourth consecutive overnight shift (10p-6a.) The NTSB says it has opened an investigation.
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i knew the sandman was a terrorist.
Human error. Hope the guy doesn't lose his job over this incident. There should've been a second person there anyway.
the system fail more than he failed. i hate to fly because your are so vulnerable. i guess when its your time to go its time to go. scary.
How is this considered overworked? He was working 8 hours a day. Granted, they were overnight, but there are plenty of workers out there who work nights and sleep in the day.
Many people work consecutive overnight shifts without sleeping. He can't handle it then fire him
He's working third shift. It's only an 8 hour shift.. He is easily at fault here. Unless they usually split 3 days on, 2 days off, etc.
Understanding the importance of the job. Maybe staff the tower with a few people?????? Just an idea.
Oh now Tom, that would make too much sense! (sarcasm)
Whats the big deal about 4 consecutive overnight shifts??? When I was in Washington with the Fed at the Census Bureau we worked rotating shifts, each for 1 month at a time. Looks like that is more than 4!!!!!
Whatt?? Holy crap! These guys get paid a LOT and have fantastic benny's AND their supervisors are supposed to watch for overwork.
Dude shouldn't have fallen asleep, but the far more important point is that the FAA shouldn't have restricted the staffing to one person and, perhaps even more importantly, the FAA is now going to use all of its power to deflect the blame away from them where it righteously belongs, to this hapless guy who either would not have fallen asleep, or, if he had, it would've been mitigated if there were at least two people working that tower like even an eight year old could tell you. As Billy Connolly so eloquently said of the desire to have at least 2 pilots, "one of them could f****** die!"
I find it unacceptable that such an important job schedules people to the point of exhaustion. Same goes for hospital workers with the super long stressful shifts. These people have lives depending on them being competent and at least awake. Is there a shortage of flight controllers??
I've work night shift 5 days a week for 15 years. Sleep during the day. 4 days is nothing.
Well hooray for you bob but the problem is when you do that for 15 years and are then switched to a different shift. Your sleep cycle WILL NOT ADJUST in 4 days.
Simple, impose regulations that the free marked f***** up on. Problem solved in 5 seconds. Running for president 2012 to debunk everyone in 5 seconds. Nuff said.
This has nothing whatever to do with the Presidency. Why don't you run for President yourself if you think you are so much wiser than other folks.
Sorry, but the Airport managers were at fault here for scheduling this guy for so many hours. What were they thinking? Is this S.O.P.? If so, there needs to be some cage-rattling happening.
I'm actually shocked at some of these comments, many of which I agree, 4th straight overnight shift? I say cut him some slack.