FAA fires 2 controllers for sleeping on job

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration says it has fired air traffic controllers in Miami and Knoxville, Tenn., for sleeping on the job.

FAA announced the firings in a statement late Wednesday.

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The agency has said the controller in Miami was found sleeping around 5 a.m. Saturday at a regional radar facility that handles high altitude air traffic for portions of Florida, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. A preliminary review of air traffic tapes indicated he did not miss any calls from aircraft and there was no impact on flight operations.

The Knoxville incident occurred on Feb. 19 at a radar facility at the McGhee Tyson Airport. Officials said the controller deliberately slept for about five hours despite attempts by a co-worker to wake him.