FAA Implements New Procedures Following Control Tower Incident

(WASHINGTON) -- Following the midweek incident at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport where an air traffic controller fell asleep while on duty, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented an interim plan to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

In a statement, the FAA announced that effective immediately, all radar controllers have been directed to contact air traffic control towers to ensure that a controller is prepared to handle an approaching flight. Personnel have also been instructed that if contact cannot be made with a control tower, proper procedures require personnel to offer pilots the option of diverting to another airport.