Air controllers call for criminal investigationEyewitness News Exclusive

[flyarm]

NOW WE HAVE 24/7 CABLE NEWS AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS STORY ON ANY OF THE CABLE NEWS!!
THIS IS ATTEMPTED MURDER!

SO WHAT WAS PISSY PANTS GOING TO DO???..BLAME IT ON IRAN???????????????

PLEASE GO TO LINK AND WATCH THE VIDEO!!


http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5271014

Air controllers call for criminal investigationEyewitness News Exclusive

New York - WABC, May 3, 2007) - The air traffic controllers who were exposed to that carbon monoxide now want a criminal investigation into why they weren't allowed to leave their control center, even though they were dizzy and disoriented -- and trying to direct hundreds of planes.

SNIP:

Air Controller's interviews from Wednesday:

"It was like a fog," said controller Ray Maldonado.

"Sometimes it felt like I couldn't clearly put together something that I normally would have at any other time. You know what I mean?" air controller John Conklin said.

"I remember just being extremely fatigued ... very tired, very sleepy. It took a lot to stay awake that night," Maldonado said.

"Headaches, nausea, dizziness, disorientation, fatigue, inability to focus, not able to concentrate. We had these employees who were in no condition to do this job being directed to continue with this job," said Iacopelli.

"They said, 'no, we're not calling the fire department,'" Conklin said.

"The employees there said, 'Well, we'll call the local fire department and have them come in to test the air. And the operations manager in charge informed them that, 'If you make the call, I will not let them in the gate and I will refuse them entry into the control room,'" Iacopelli said.

Dr. Thomas Carracio runs the Long Island Regional Poison Control Center.

"What's troubling is it sounds like the workers were forced to stay in the area despite the fact they were having symptoms. Hundreds of people die every year with this," Carracio said. "It's something that shouldn't be taken lightly by anyone."

"I can surmise that they weren't relieved because what the FAA felt was, 'Let's keep moving the airplanes and we'll worry about the safety of our employees and passengers later. Maybe nothing will happen.'" Iacopelli said.

"Something potentially dangerous could have happened and thankfully nothing did," Maldonado.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

AS A RETIRED FLIGHT CREW I CAN TELL YOU THIS WOULD NOT PLEASE ME TO THINK I WAS IN THE AIR AND THE CONTROLLERS WERE DISORIENTED..AND DIZZY AND FALLING ASLEEP...

AND WHERE WAS OUR MEDIA ON THIS STORY..

AND THE STORY OF THE TSA EMPLOYEES DATA MISSING FROM THE TSA OFFICES!!

WHO IS DOING THIS AND WHY/..ASK YOURSELF THAT!!

FLY


OH BUT PSSSSSSSSSSSS..PARIS HILTON IS GOING TO JAIL...LETS GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT ..OK I GOT IT.. YOU MEDIA WHORES OUT THERE..I GOT IT!! ROGER AND OUT..

[flyarm]

1. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLES LIVES WERE PUT IN JEOPARDY!!

THAT THAT CONTROL CENTER WAS NOT SHUT DOWN AND FLIGHTS DIVERTED..IS INEXCUSABLE..

and there was precedence to close that control ctr..

please pass this to everyone you know..since our MSM didn't think this story was important enough for the american people to know...but that Paris Hilton is a much more important story..or "FOX"S" american idol was more important..

People please wake up..they are setting us up ..either on purpose..or incompetance...

fly

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Interesting to find out that WABC isn't part of the mainstream media.

[flyarm]

4. ok so did you hear about this story in Los Angeles or Chicago??

or Kansas City..or Dallas????????

but i bet you heard about Paris Hilton ..like all day today..and american idol all day wednesday and thursday !!


fly

[flyarm]

7. I live in So NJ and watch Philly news..WABC is not the Philly news..and freaking

Newark Airport is in my STATE!!

AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS!!

AND WHO IS FROM NJ..MR HOMELAND SECURITY!!

fly

[aquart]

9. I heard about it in New York.

[flyarm]

11. bUT I HAVE 2 HOMES MY HUBBY FLIES ALL THE TIME..AND HE IS IN NJ AND NEVER HEARD IT

on Philly news..

and i am sitting at my other home in Fla and i never heard a word about it..

a flight attendant friend sent it to me this morning!!

this story has not been covered once this week on any news i have watched and i have the cable news on 24 /7!!

and i am a retired flight crew..i pay attention to stuff like this..if i didn't hear it.. neither did people who were up in those planes, coming from all over the country to Newark Airport!

this is national security..

this is all of our security!

do you think this is not newsworthy for people in the nation to know?????????

but don't worry..we all know about paris hilton..and american idol!!

fly

[flyarm]

3. TSA computer hard drive missing

THIS IS THE The Transportation Security Administration ..NOW DO YOU STILL FEEL SAFE TAKING YOUR SHOES OFF, YOUR BELT OFF, YOU HAIR CLIPS OFF..AND YOUR JEWLERY OFF?? AND THROWING OUT YOUR TOOTHPASTE AND MAKEUP??

http://www.rawstory.com/showoutarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F18497134%2F

TSA computer hard drive missing
Drive contained data for over 100,000 Homeland Security employees
By Matt Apuzzo

Updated: 46 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration is trying to find a missing computer hard drive containing Social Security numbers, bank data and payroll information for about 100,000 employee records.

Authorities realized Thursday the hard drive was missing from a controlled area at TSA headquarters.

"It is unclear at this stage whether the device is still within headquarters or was stolen," the agency said in a statement Friday.

TSA has asked the FBI and Secret Service to investigate, the statement said.

The hard drive contained information on employees who worked for the Homeland Security agency from January 2002 until August 2005.

TSA, a division of the Homeland Security Department, employs about 50,000 people and is responsible for security of the nation's transportation systems, including airports and train stations.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

understand people ..that the identity and id info and all employee info is now all out there..

so who are the next hijackers?? do they have that info now??????????????????

come on people wake up!!

get on the phones to your local news media..call your congress people and start demanding answers..this is all of our safety!!

all of us!!

fly

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Off to the greatest page...

Considering how the air traffic controllers have been used and abused since the Ray-gun error, it is amazing that we have not had many more problems!!!

[bumblebee1]

6. The unfortunate thing:

The American public cares more about Paris Hilton, NASCAR, etc than they do about their safety in the air. This was the same situation after the air traffic controllers were fired in the 80's.

[flyarm]

17. NO THEY DON'T ..IT'S JUST WHAT WE GET A STEADY DIET OF WITH NO REAL NEWS..

this is real news..paris Hilton does not have any effect on my life what so ever...this story sure and hell does!!

but did any of you see this on cable news or any news besides New York local news?????????

anyone?????????

ok how many have seen one or more news stories about PARIS HITLON AND AMERICAN IDOL THIS WEEK?????????

THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE BEING FED ..AS NEWS!!

fly

[Horse with no Name]

8. The implications are terrifying.

Now, with their info gone missing, can you say blackmail?

[rocktivity]

10. "Sometimes it felt like I couldn't clearly put together something

that I normally would have at any other time. You know what I mean?" air controller John Conklin said.

Sort of...



rocknation
:wow:

[uppityperson]

12. I haven't heard about this, thank you for posting and wtf?????

[bleever]

13. K&R. Scary stuff. If a "terrorist" had done this, it would be huge headlines.

WTF?

[fooj]

18. Definition of terrorism...

defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives."

Can't get much clearer than that.

WE, THE PEOPLE, have circulated information across this country post 9-11 without ANY assistance from the MSM. We have fought our way out of the darkness and we can do it again. WE HAVE THE POWER BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUTH.

If I denied an individual the opportunity to remove themselves from a room (garage) that was filling with carbon monoxide...if I denied them opportunity to phone for help (Fire Dept.) or vacate to safety and then THREATENED that if HELP ARRIVED they would be DENIED ENTRANCE...

MY ASS WOULD BE IN JAIL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER! As it well should be! It's that simple. What do they mean there "MAY be a criminal investigation"??? There WILL BE a criminal investigation. WE, THE PEOPLE, will DEMAND IT!

I am spreading this story far and wide. I have friends who own travel agencies and friends who work in the airline industry. This act of domestic terrorism must be brought to justice. IMMEDIATELY.

WE ARE THE MEDIA. We have functioned as such since the "traditional" media has abdicated its responsibilities to this country. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO! Let's get busy!!!

There is NO WAY that they can SPIN this. It was a DELIBERATE act. Now, we need to arm our fellow citizens with TRUTH so that we all can safeguard ourselves against this type of criminal activity.

Thanks, Fly! I live on the West Coast and I haven't heard one report! This is an absolute OUTRAGE!

[Raksha]

36. If anyone had died, this would be the Triangle fire of our century.

I think it very well could be anyway.

[bleever]

40. Hear, hear!

Well said.

:thumbsup:

[annabanana]

14. That is scary beyond all reason... If those administrators

really threatened not to let emergency personnel onto the property they should be out on their asses, like yesterday.

[flyarm]

15. and what if a disoriented controller gave two planes the same altitude???

what if they gave two planes the same runway to land on?????? at the same time??

and what if a controller told one plane to cross a runway from a taxi way....while one plane was landing on that runway..because of disorientation???????????

a controllers job is not one you want people sleepy from carbon monoxide..or disorientated!!

there are people's lives in a tube in the air..counting on people in the control tower to be alert ..and orientated..

fly

[fooj]

44. The consequences must be severe.

[Sanity Claws]

16. We need stronger unions

A union member may disobey a direct order if the order presents an immediate health danger. That was clearly the case here but because the union has been gutted, the flight controllers could not take action to protect themselves. Heads should roll.

[seemslikeadream]

19. DAZED AIR CONTROLLERS 'FUMING'

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05032007/news/regionalnews/dazed_air_controllers_fuming_regionalnews_david_andreatta.htm

By DAVID ANDREATTA
May 3, 2007 -- The skies were clear, but a half-dozen air-traffic controllers on Long Island say they were in a mind fog while directing hundreds of planes last week after toxic fumes seeped into their offices.

Controllers at an FAA facility in Westbury said they were sickened by carbon monoxide on April 28.

A test of one of the facility's backup generators sent the gas shooting through the ventilation system, leaving some workers disoriented and nauseous for as many as four hours, they said.

Dean Iacopelli, president of the local controllers' union, said workers' requests to be relieved were denied.

The FAA did not immediately comment.

[flyarm]

27. The FAA did not immediately comment.

thats because little lord pissy pants has had incompetent people running the FAA since he took office!!

remember "brownie"..well ...just use your imagination!!

fly

[libnnc]

34. Not just incompetents, but big business types

who are working to privatize the FAA. They know EXACTLY what they're doing in that regard. And they've been doing everything in their power to piss off and abuse the union and union members.

[flyarm]

35. yes indeed big business types who have no business or experience in the

aviation business..the experience is being replaced with corporate people who are clueless...but do a good job shuffling paper!! and do good ass kiss...

great job Brownie..ring any bells??????

fly

[Aviation Pro]

49. Her name is Marion Blakley....

...a non-pilot deep in the pocket of the "privatization" nuts.

[flyarm]

62. yes indeed it is..and this administration didn't seem to be able to find

one retired pilot, nasa aviation engineer..or crew chief with any major airline , or move someone up from the FAA or an experienced NTSB person...

no they got a woman who gave parties for the repug party in washington to run a very serious position that people's lives are daily at risk..by possible and probable incompetance.

fly

made early retirement an easy decision..:(

[Aviation Pro]

63. And yet....

...in spite of all indications that suspected pilot Bush (I have my reasons to doubt) was going to be a God-send to aviation, he has turned out to be the biggest disaster to aviation since the CAA was formed. Incidentally, us pilots were almost unanimous in their support of this psychopath in 2000. I wonder how they feel now?

[flyarm]

64. don't i know..i had many fights with pilots over pissy pants!! i warned them

most i had alot more seniority over..they didn't listen..i just wonder how many have other jobs today??

or no pensions!! and pay cuts!!

sorry but i have no sympathy for the pilots who voted for that mtf..none..they were warned!!
by many of us old gals in the cabin!!


bottom line..my responsibility was always the safety of my passengers..#1..

my job was to follow procedures because they were put in place for the safety of the flying public and my fellow co-workers safety..and for the safety of people on the ground..

when the president of the United States does not follow the most basic proceedures..we are all in trouble..

all of our safety is in jeopardy

and when the media does not do the job they are tasked ..for using our airways..in a democracy.. to tell the american people..the information they have at hand , for the safety of all of us..then it becomes all of our responsibility to hold them all accountable, and it becomes incumbent for all of us to become the media...

please send this article to everyone you have an email address for..send it to your local papers and media and demand this story be told...

and for goodness sake..get on the phones to congress and demand public hearings and accountability!

fly

[Raksha]

20. This is absolutely terrifying! n/t

[H2O Man]

21. Nominated.

This is very important. Thank you for posting it.

[understandinglife]

22. Recommended.

Peace.

[flyarm]

23. UNDERSTAND THIS ..TIME IS CRITICAL IN THE AIR..WITH CONTROLLERS

disoreinted..and even small delays in response can be critical..being off numbers can be critical..giving the wrong altitude can be critical.

Confusion by a controller can be critical!
Contollers must be extrememly aware of what they are doing..and saying to the tube in the air..filled with human beings!

We must all demand a criminal investigation..this must not be allowed to be swept under a rug..it is all our safety..in the air as well as on the ground.

People must be held accountable..and fired for their failures to those controllers, as well as the flying public and the public on the ground!!

Remember..Reagan destroyed the Controllers union..we must do this to protect ourselves, by protecting the controllers!!

fly

[fooj]

24. Agreed.

The BIG PICTURE here is CONTROL! Think about the terror and fear that would spread throughout this country if Americans believed that they could be poisoned in ANY closed building or arena.

EVERYONE needs to respond to this crime! EVERYONE!

Thanks again for posting this!:hug:

[mcg]

28. True, Air Traffic Controllers have a very challenging job.

I worked for the FAA for a short time years ago and was given
a tour and an overview of their job.

It requires a great deal of alertness and quick mindedness,
it's a difficult job even when the conditions are right.
If a mistake is made people can die.

What Reagan did was repugnant. Controllers deserve a union
and deserve to be treated well.

[libnnc]

25. FAA likes to remove asbestos from facilites during the day without

telling controllers too.

Don't worry. It's only asbestos flying through the air in the duct system-and you've been breathing it for 8 hours...No biggie.

[seemslikeadream]

26. I wonder who was flying into the airport?

:shrug:

[Big Pappa]

45. And thus a conspiracy is born.

n/t

[seemslikeadream]

57. Is it ever alright with YOU

to ask a quetion or wonder, as I wonder why you were reading this thread? I am guessing it was your turn at bat?



A Starry Night at Arue

These are my beliefs, in eight and twenty lines:
That men are nobler than their actions show;
That “Beauty is Truth” defined and still defines
As much of the ultimate truth as we shall know;
That ever-questing Science yet may bare
Much that is strange and new, and after all
Her farthest flights, that Man will stand and stare,
Awed and humbled, at the self-same wall
That hemmed him round when once he lived in trees;
That littleness makes still the happiest nation;
That states do wrong to emulate the bees
In industry, the ants in population;
That of men’s crimes against themselves, the latest,
Distance conquered, is among the greatest;

That Reason is a rock no more than Feeling
(Intuition is a safer guide);
That those who make a god of Reason, kneeling
Devout, are not the wholly sane, clear-eyed
Beings they fondly think; that cocks will crow
At dawn, as now, in twice ten thousand years,
Changelessness a changing world to show;
That men will still shed blood and women tears
As long as there are tears and blood to shed;
That joy has lunar months as well as grief.
When everything is said that can be said,
This is my sure, my very firm belief:
That life, to one born whole, is worth the living,
Well worth the taking, having, and the giving.

- James Norman Hall

[flyarm]

58. :)....eom

[seemslikeadream]

61. That those who make a god of Reason,

kneeling
Devout, are not the wholly sane, clear-eyed
Beings they fondly think

:)

[Big Pappa]

73. No your cool.

I would have never thought to go in that direction as to wonder who was onboard thats all.

[seemslikeadream]

66. 6 hours!

you must have been napping

[Blue_Tires]

29. wow...that's crazy

I thought a lot of buildings where something like this could happen had detectors that would trigger an immediate evacuation if the monoxide levels got above a certain amount? maybe i'm wrong

[libnnc]

30. Methinks NATCA is going to feast on the carcases of some

management assholes over this. Barbecue their lousy, paper pushing asses. Motherfuckers. I hate FAA management.

[whistle]

47. The Ronald "Raygun" legacy air traffic controllers union strike busting

<snip>
When air traffic controllers took on Ronald Reagan
Lessons of PATCO

August 3, 2001 | Page 10

AUGUST 3 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the toughest battles in organized labor’s recent history--the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike in 1981.

With his busting of the 17-month strike, Republican President Ronald Reagan sent a message to the labor movement that he and his big business backers were in charge. It was Act One in what would be a decade of unprecedented greed for Corporate America at the expense of U.S. workers.

Yet despite their defeat, the 13,000-strong air traffic controllers union demonstrated inspiring militancy, unity and determination--conducting an illegal strike against a popular president with little support from other unions.

ELIZABETH SCHULTE tells the story of the PATCO strike-and explains its lessons for today.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
<MORE>


http://www.socialistworker.org/2001/374/374_10_PATCO.shtml

[MasonJar]

31. No.1 carbon monoxide can kill; no.2 everyone flying in and out was

potentially threatened. Whoever was in charge of this atrocity needs to be fired. The shortage of air traffic controllers goes back the the right's god, good ole Ronnie Reagan.

[Octafish]

32. One would think this might be of interest to most Americans.

So, where's Corporate McPravda?

For the laser-beam set: Before I posted this, I put "carbon monoxide faa" into the GOOGLE News and out popped four stories.

Four.

EDIT: Tippo

[flyarm]

33. THIS HAD SUCH LIMITED COVERAGE..AND THAT IS A PLOY , OF COURSE!!

one must wonder...who and why the coverup nation wide??

why no national coverage on this?? and who made that decision..this is national security!!

so is the "PARTY OF NATIONAL SECURITY" TELLING THE MEDIA TO COVER THIS UP???????????

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


LETS SEE WHAT STORIES HAVE BEEN REGURGITATED OVER AND OVER...

PARIS HILTON,
Paris hilton and the bev hills jewlery store that can make a bling bling ankle bracelet
HOOKERGATE
THE QUEEN
THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITH THE QUEEN
JAMESTOWN WITH THE QUEEN
AMERICAN IDOL..AND ALL THAT BULLSHIT..

TWISTER IN KANSAS..WELL THAT *IS NEWS*..

NOW AL ZAWARRI MESSAGE..OR IS HE DEAD AGAIN?? AND AGAIN AND AGAIN..

MORE PARIS HILTON..I HAVE HER OUTFIT MEMORIZED...PINK TOP..WHITE SKIRT..BELLY BUTTON SHOWING..

OHH ONE STORY ..1ST TIME TODAY..ABOUT THE MISSING TSA DATA..REAL QUICK..DON'T WANT ANYONE NOTICING ..

COMMERICAL...

BACK TO KANSAS TWISTER..THIS IS NEWS..SAD NEWS ( I USED TO LIVE IN KANSAS..AND MY SINCEREST SYMPATHIES)

PLANE CRASH IN CAMAROON..115 PASSENGERS AND CREW ..GONE..( THIS IS NEWS) AP REPORTER ONBOARD.

NOPE NOT ONE MENTION OF THIS ..NOT ONCE THIS WEEK ON MSNBC!!

FLY

[xchrom]

37. kick

[symbolman]

38. K & R

My god..

[TacticalPeek]

39. K&R

:kick:

[Canuckistanian]

41. Jesus Christ, when are the American people going to get a clue?

Deregulation. Demonization of unions. TSA CYA.

Gee, where have we heard of government agencies screwing up this badly before? (Hint: FEMA, DHS, FDA, EPA, etc. ,etc.)

[file83]

42. If a plane had crashed, that ATC manager would get charged with negligent homicide.

Thank God no planes crashed. This fucker should go to jail for not sending all airplanes out of the area and shutting down the airport.

[me b zola]

43. k&r

[rec_report]

46. K&R. n/t

[jean]

48. Read it and weep - this is gross negligence, at the very least.

[troubleinwinter]

50. Absolutely horrific. And, Google news shows practically NOTHING.

7Online.com NY and WABC NY. That's IT!!!! An extremely shocking and outrageous story, but nearly zero coverage!

How many lives placed in danger??!!

Another recommend.

[troubleinwinter]

51. WTF???!!!!!!

7Online is just the online version of the local WABC news. So that's it... only one news outlet seems to be reporting it at all.

[flyarm]

52. NOW WE WOULDN'T WANT TO EXPOSE THE "NATIONAL SECURITY" ADMINISTRATION NOW WOULD WE??

and if an aircraft had gone down..do you suppose it would have been Iran that did it?????????
certainly it would not have been the failure of this administration , and their national security..or their FAA or TSA..nahhhhh..silly me...:silly:

..it would have been Iran's fault..or al-Zawahiri, or the boogyman..

..because you know..they want to come here ( cough , choke) and get us!!:sarcasm:


can we now look at the terror within our nation..?????????

CNN??

MSNBC??

forget Faux...........

CBS????
NBC???

ABC????????oh i know they were too busy reporting on the " no one " in the Hookergate story/non story..

fly

[fooj]

68. Yep. One has to wonder how this happened with "Mr. National Security" in charge...

After all, it happened in his OWN BACKYARD! Wasn't Chertoff a Federal Prosecutor for the state of New Jersey? If memory serves me, he was the ONLY attorney Clinton didn't replace when he took office.

[flyarm]

69. YES YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT!!! EOM KICK

[FloridaJudy]

53. And 28% of the population still thinks GWB is doing great?

Has anyone checked the carbon monoxide levels in their environment?

[NotGivingUp]

54. k&r!

[krispos42]

55. Disgusting. Googling CBS News, CNN, MSNBC, etc

for 'carbon monoxide FAA Long Island' turned up NOTHING!!! Only on ABC news!

Shit.

K&R

[flyarm]

56. WHEN THIS FALLS OFF GREATEST PLEASE KEEP KICKED IN GD..PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THIS!!

THANK YOU ALL..please send this info to everyone you know and call your congresspeople and demand an investigation!! and accountability..

We are all at risk ..in the air and on the ground when this can happen and our government fails us

Yes they failed the air traffic controllers..but they failed all of us..

I would never have known about it , nor would you have, if friends of mine who are flight crew had not sent this to me..

Please keep this story alive..we are the media..

"We The People" have to protect ourselves and our families! We can not count on a media, that plays White House talking points only!!

Please be pro-active on this!!

Your life may depend on it!!

fly

[krispos42]

74. Random kick! n/t

[AzDar]

59. K &R.....

:kick:

[spanone]

60. K&R

[troubleinwinter]

65. Kick!

[fooj]

67. Kick!

:kick:

[troubleinwinter]

70. Google News shows only one

"newspaper" with anything on this story (aside from the local NY ABC website), Googling 'carbon monoxide faa air'.

NY Post devoted five sentences, five days later: http://www.nypost.com/seven/05032007/news/regionalnews/dazed_air_controllers_fuming_regionalnews_david_andreatta.htm

[flyarm]

71. kick!!

[flyarm]

72. read this..so with a situation like this do we need Air traffic Controllers disorientated?

or sleepy , or in a fog?? from carbon monoxide , for four hours..carbon monoxide that kills people??

carbon monoxide that could have caused an aircraft disaster? do you want people controlling our airspace that are not 100%???

understand this is a very stressful job..under normal situations..

read this...

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...cal&id=5260453

Runway disaster waiting to happen?
Eyewitness News Exclusive
Eyewitness News

(Newark - WABC, April 30, 2007) - Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty Airport are speaking out and warning the public that the FAA is ignoring their worries about close calls at intersecting runways.

The Eyewitness News Investigators Jim Hoffer has this exclusive story.
For months, air traffic controllers at Newark held off talking to us on camera in hopes that the FAA would change the way they claim is a risky landing pattern involving intersecting runways. Days ago, they decided they were tired of waiting and it was time to tell their story.

It was a November day in 2005, air traffic controller Phil Wagner's worse day in his 12 years working the tower at Newark Liberty Airport.

"I'd say it was real close. The closest I've ever seen in my career," he said.

snip:

Two commercial jets were coming in for a landing at Newark at the same time on intersecting runways -- usually not a problem unless winds, poor visibility or timing forces one of the planes to abort its landing. And that's exactly what happened in this case. The pilot of the jet landing on runway 11 aborted his landing and started to climb directly into the path of the other plane landing on runway 22.