Reno air traffic controller asleep on the job; plane lands safely
By Susan Voyles, Reno Gazette-Journal
Updated: The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that a controller at Reno-Tahoe International Airport fell asleep while a medical flight carrying an ill patient was trying to land early Wednesday morning.
The air controller has been suspended while the FAA investigates.
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A medical flight landed safely early today at Reno Tahoe International Airport after the pilot failed to make contact with the air traffic control tower.
Krys Bart, CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, said at a news conference today that the Piper Cheyenne plane twin engine turboprop carrying a sick person landed at about 2 a.m. The plane was out of communication with the tower for about 16 minutes, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration said.