US AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL WORRIES

The FAA yesterday suspended a controller who apparently fell asleep on the job at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Two aircraft, including a United Airlines flight from Chicago, were forced to rely on air traffic controllers 40 miles away to land at the airport when they were unable to gain contact with the air traffic controller. The worker, a Federal Aviation Administration supervisor, was working his shift at Reagan’s Tower early Wednesday morning. “I am determined to get to the bottom of this situation for the safety of the traveling public,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt in a statement yesterday.”