Air traffic controller nods off during night shift
A Japanese air traffic controller fell asleep on the job yesterday, leaving a cargo aircraft unable to land while attempts were made to wake him over the radio.
The air traffic controller told bosses he had “nodded off” after feeling drowsy during the night shift at Naha Airport in Okinawa, southern Japan.
An All Nippon Airways freighter from Bangkok seeking landing approval was unable to get through on the radio, despite repeated attempts, with communications lost for 12 minutes.
Masanori Suzuki, a senior ministry official in charge of air traffic control, apologized and said a thorough investigation would be conducted to prevent similar problems in the future.
Kizzi Nkwocha | Wed, 14 Sep 2011, IFW News