Ray LaHood promises probe of kiddie air-traffic chatter at JFK

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Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Thursday promised senators a complete investigation into how an air traffic controller allowed his two children to radio instructions to pilots.

“This is a stunning example of a lack of professionalism, not following the rules, not using common sense,” LaHood told a Senate committee in a televised hearing. “The air traffic controller and his supervisor are on administrative leave and we are doing a thorough and complete investigation.

“The idea that a young child would be directing planes in and out of an airport is totally unacceptable.”

The controller, working at John F. Kennedy airport in Queens, N.Y., brought his son to work and let the youngster read a few routine messages to pilots and then brought in his daughter to do the same the next day.

-- Michael Muskal
twitter.com/LATimesmuskal