Babbitt Tells Congressman That The Controller Purposely Slept On Overnight Shift

FAA administrator Randy Babbitt has told a U.S. Congressman that the agency has uncovered another incident of an of air traffic controller sleeping on the job.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt

Representative Tom Latham (R-IA) asked Babbitt directly if there had been other examples of a controller sleeping on duty after an incident at Washington Reagan National Airport in which two airplanes landed without clearance from ATC. "Yes sir, we actually, I'm disappointed to say, in our investigation, we did find another incident," Babbitt responded. "And it was, unfortunately, willful."

CNN reports that Babbitt told the Congressman that the controller was being disciplined. Latham did not ask, and Babbitt did not say, whether the case is being handled differently than the DCA incident. Latham did indicate that he wanted more details.

DOT now requires at least two controllers to be on duty during overnight hours. Staffing is being reviewed throughout the air traffic control system.

FMI: www.faa.gov