The Federal Aviation Administration has revealed the woman who abandoned five aircraft requesting to land because she became incapacitated while working a night shift alone, no longer works for the regulators.
Federal and airport authorities were investigating what caused the Las Vegas air traffic controller at McCarran International Airport to fall silent during the Wednesday incident which left planes stranded in the air and on the ground.
On Sunday the agency told NBC News the woman no longer works for them but did not divulge whether she was fired or chose to leave of her own accord.
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A Las Vegas air traffic controller appeared to slur her words and then pass out while working by herself at McCarran International Airport Wednesday (file image)
At one point, the controller sounds sleepy and apologizes over the radio, saying she is 'choking a little bit'
Air traffic recordings available on the internet feature commercial airline pilots having trouble understanding the controller during radio communications
The FAA previously said the Nevada woman was put on administrative leave.
It's not understood whether the probe is complete.
The incident occurred during a busy period shortly before midnight.
Officials said the incident amounted to a 40-minute span during which the female controller slurred words and then apparently lost consciousness.
Air traffic recordings available on the internet feature commercial airline pilots having trouble understanding the controller during radio communications about approaches to land, clearances to take off and directions for taxiing.
In the recordings some begin talking between themselves about something being amiss.
At one point, the controller sounds sleepy and apologizes over the radio, saying she is 'choking a little bit.'
Minutes later, she misstates an aircraft's call numbers. Finally, her microphone opens to the sound of coughing and grunting.
During the 40-minute interlude, five planes were stranded in the air (airport pictured July 2015)
She does not respond to a pilot's inquiry before the sound of a male voice is heard in the room asking if the woman is alright.
Officials said a male controller who had been on break was summoned to return to the tower. Paramedics responded.
'An air traffic controller at the Las Vegas tower became incapacitated while on duty,' the FAA said. It did not identify the controller or the cause of her incapacitation.
'We have thoroughly reviewed the incident and confirmed that no safety events or losses of required separation between aircraft occurred, and there were no conflicts between aircraft on the airfield,' the statement read. 'However, the FAA is very concerned about this incident and what occurred is not acceptable.
'Our safety system is very interdependent and includes multiple layers of redundancies, so there is no single point of failure. When one component fails, the risk increases but there are other processes and procedures in place to prevent an accident from occurring.'
Five inbound aircraft remained airborne during the incident.
Planes on the ground at McCarren were forced to communicate between themselves to maintain their safety (airport pictured May 2016)
The unidentified controller worked for a little more than an hour before trouble began and communicated with pilots of 29 aircraft before she was replaced.
The statement continued: 'Pilots are highly trained and will not land unless they have a landing clearance and are comfortable with it.
'In this instance, some pilots opted not to depart or communicated with other aircraft on the common radio frequency. Aircraft on the ground either held their position or proceeded cautiously while questioning the controller and communicating with each other.'
Airport director Rosemary Vassiliadis issued a statement saying that initial findings echoed the FAA assessment.
After the incident, two controllers were ordered to be in the room at one time (file image)
The FAA added it 'is deeply concerned by the incident' and is 'taking immediate steps to modify its overnight shift staffing policies'.
After the occurrence, the FAA changed the rules for busy hours.
Spokesman Ian Gregor said: 'The FAA now requires two controllers to be in the tower cab working traffic until a certain time based on shift periods and traffic levels.
'Facilities will not combine to one position prior to midnight or 90 minutes after the start of the shift, whichever is later. The policy took effect Friday.'
McCarran is among the 10 busiest airports in the US in passenger volume.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association chief Paul Rinaldi issued a statement praising the work of thousands of union members around the country and promising cooperation in the FAA investigation 'so that all of the facts are known'.
McCarran is among the 10 busiest airports in the US in passenger volume. The woman worked for a little more than an hour before trouble began and communicated with pilots of 29 aircraft
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/13/las-vegas-air-traffic-controller-who-left-five-planes-stranded-midair-no-longer-works-for-the-faa/
Main photo article The Federal Aviation Administration has revealed the woman who abandoned five aircraft requesting to land because she became incapacitated while working a night shift alone, no longer works for the regulators.
Federal and airport authorities were investigating what caused the Las Vegas air ...
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Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/13/00/6108288-6382447-A_Las_Vegas_air_traffic_controller_appeared_to_slur_her_words_an-m-7_1542069693187.jpg
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