Tired Air Traffic Controller Blamed in Near-Crash
From Associated Press
A tired air traffic controller directed a departing airliner onto a Los Angeles International Airport runway where another jet was about to land, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report on an incident 1 1/2 years ago in which disaster was avoided by a pilot’s quick action.
The report released this week said the probable cause of the incident was the controller’s “failure to appropriately monitor the operation and recognize a developing conflict,” with contributing factors including fatigue and tower procedures.
The Aug. 19, 2004, incident involved a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and an Asiana Airlines Boeing 747-400 carrying a total of 446 people.