Air controller slept as planes landed in Washington

[sn26567]

An air traffic controller told U.S. investigators on Thursday he had fallen asleep on the job, leaving two jetliners to land in Washington without any airport guidance.

The unidentified 20-year veteran was suspended.

The two flights -- one operated by United Airlines and the other by American Airlines -- landed without incident at Ronald Reagan National Airport early Wednesday. Flight crews could not raise the airport tower on the radio for runway and landing instructions shortly after midnight but were in contact with another nearby FAA facility.

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.

Full story from Reuters

[smokejumper]

He has been suspended, pending either termination or retraining. Alltogether, a careeer limiting nap!

see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rea ... story.html