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Video: Air traffic controller kids at JFK
Air traffic controller suspended after boy’s ‘awesome’ exchange with pilots
An air traffic controller at New York's John F Kennedy airport has been suspended after he allowed one young child to clear planes for departure and another to speak to pilots.
JFK is one of America's busiest airports. An audiotape captured one of the children, a boy, directing several pilots as they prepared for take-off. In one exchange, the boy is heard saying: "JetBlue 171 contact departure." The pilot responds: "Over to departure JetBlue 171, awesome job."
The suspended air traffic controller is thought to be the father of the child on the tape. The incident occurred on February 17, during a week-long break for New York school pupils.
According to FAA officials, the air traffic controller let a second child do the same thing. ·
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I think discharge of this air traffic controller should be considered. If his judgement is this bad, how might he react in an emergency situation? The pilots should be reprehended. Based on the news coverage I saw, they accepted the commands of the child. They did not question the child's directions in any way. They should have asked for direction from the adult traffic controller; poor judgment on the part of the pilots.