JFK Controller Suspended

An air traffic tower controller and his supervisor at New York JFK Airport were placed on administrative leave last month following an incident in February when two of the controller’s children were permitted to issue instructions to pilots on an ATC frequency during atwo-day span. The FAA is conducting an investigation and has suspended “all unofficial visits to FAA air traffic control operational areas, such as towers and radar rooms” during this investigation. (See page 77 for two perspectives on the incident and its consequences.)