...At least was unresponsive to 2 aircraft trying to land. The planes landed anyway (Safely) treating it as an uncontrolled airport approach. So far the only action taken was the controller was suspended, pending investigation. My question is shouldn't those pilots, have diverted to Dulles, rather than land on there own? I know smaller GA airports can be uncontrolled, but I would think larger commercial airports would not allow this. According to the weather map at the time, it was raining as well.http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/23/washington.planes.controllers/index.html?hpt=T2

Locked out??If I'd been that controller I'd already have been sacked for putting my line manager in hospital...Still, there must have been someone he could phone, so perhaps he was asleep after all.

It was a serious matter on one hand, but on the other hand the passengers' safety wasn't compromised. CNN is really playing this one up; Leading the aviation ignorant masses to believe the aircraft were in danger without the controllers response (which wasn't too long). The anchor asked an official how the aircraft were able to land safely without the controller... "With their eyes and brains; That's what they're paid to do!" I said to the TV. The last thing the aviation community needs are terrified passengers and over zealous legislators due to bad publicity. There's enough of that to go around already. Just my opinion.One question got me with a CNN interview with an FAA official today. The anchor asked why there are more incidents happening in the past year or so. The truth is, reports have gone up, not incidents. That's a good thing.I'll add that I frequented the Washington DC area, just west of the FRZone, in past flying. Losing radio contact in that area is no joke in that area. Believe me... I wonder what will happen to the controller in question.

Controllers are understaffed and overworked, you can bet your bottom dollar the Feds won't address those issues.

Well not without proper funding.

My question is shouldn't those pilots, have diverted to Dulles, rather than land on there own? I know smaller GA airports can be uncontrolled, but I would think larger commercial airports would not allow this.

Hmm, not really. The principle is the same. You call up as a blind transmition and if someone replies you coordinate with that someone; it happened somewhere past midnight I've heard, so it wasn't a rush hour. Plus, you can always call back to approach to state the problem to them and they may give you an answer to your problemBest regards,

Today's follow-up on CNN reports that the controller admits to having fallen asleep. The story also details four other incidents where controllers working with less than a full night's sleep misdirected traffic, putting planes at risk of collision. (Alert pilots averted accidents in all cases.)I guess I would rather have the controller be asleep than have him clear two aircraft to use the same runway at the same time.Several commentors on CNN have asked why they didn't divert to nearby Dulles in that situation.

Controllers are understaffed and overworked, you can bet your bottom dollar the Feds won't address those issues.

It seems, though, that they have plenty of TSA (Thousands Standing Around) funding. Flying is so much safer when nobody can bring 8-ounce bottles of lotion on the plane.

Also, I think its important to note that so far he has only been suspended.

Also, I think its important to note that so far he has only been suspended.

I honestly hope that's all that happens to him. Anyone and everyone is susceptible to fatigue. Add to that the fact it was after 12AM in the morning and he was the only one in the tower... It's nature he was fighting to stay awake.Last year I fell asleep at the wheel driving from class and dinged up my car. Up until then I had scoffed at others that had done the same thing.

Agreed. It has already been mentioned that our controllers are worked out. News repots claim that that particular airport will staff at least two controllers on any giving night from now on, but this should be made an example, not against the controller, but the system controlling it.Let the poor man keep his job.

I honestly hope that's all that happens to him. Anyone and everyone is susceptible to fatigue. Add to that the fact it was after 12AM in the morning and he was the only one in the tower... It's nature he was fighting to stay awake.Last year I fell asleep at the wheel driving from class and dinged up my car. Up until then I had scoffed at others that had done the same thing.

I tend to agree, especially with all the reports of controllers being over worked. I also fell a sleep at the wheel once. I was driving home from a Bruce Springsteen (4 hour) concert in Hartford, CT. to Boston, (Also after 8 hours of work before it) and fell asleep on I-90 I don't know for how long, or how I avoided hitting anything, all I remember was seeing the Toll Booths ahead, with just enough time to stop about 5 feet from hitting the pillars. All I can say is someone was looking out for me. I never drove while tired again though. On the other hand, I could have easily killed myself, or worse someone else, which I would have been directly responsible for. So I also have to ask would we or should we be so forgiving if a plane crashed as a result of his lapse?

Since there is retribution for employees calling in fatigued,The moral issue would largely be on management then?.

Since there is retribution for employees calling in fatigued,The moral issue would largely be on management then?.

Yup. Which the media is starting to shine light on, finally.I mean you're going to have tired people. There's no getting around that human factor. But setting someone up for this kind of failure baffles me.

its still odd as he was the only one on duty on an overnight shift...in anu we're rostered 2 persons on any overnight shift...plus the dca controller worked 4 consecutive overnighters...which is really taxing, especially if he has a family to take care of...as to why he was rostered like that is another major question