Accused Of Being Unresponsive On Two Separate Occasions While On Duty

The FAA is looking into accusations that an air traffic controller, whom they have not identified, was unresponsive twice while on the job. During one of those incidents, which occurred earlier this month, two other employees said they saw the controller sleeping while he was assigned to the tower at West Virginia's Yeager Airport.

The Associated Press reports that the FAA recommends that the controller be fired. In January, a HealthNet helicopter trying to land at a local hospital was unable to contact the tower for clearance to land. The pilot reportedly made a straight-in approach without clearance to get the patient to Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital. A HealthNet representative told the Charleston Daily Mail that the pilot tried to contact the tower "multiple times" before landing without clearance.

On March 2, the controller was reportedly observed sleeping when he was on duty. That allegation was made by two people.

Clinton Burley, president and CEO for HealthNet, said that at no time during the January incident was the aircrew or the patient in any danger. The controller has been taken off duty while the incidents are being investigated.

FMI: www.faa.gov