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LAS VEGAS – Federal and airport authorities said Friday they are investigating why an air traffic controller became incapacitated and went silent while working at a busy night shift in the busy McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
"No safety events of this incident," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement about what officials said to a 40-minute span during which the female controller slurred words and then apparently lost consciousness shortly before midnight Wednesday.
"An air traffic controller at the Las Vegas tower has become incapacitated while on duty," the agency said. It did not identify the controller or the cause of its incapacitation.
Airport director Rosemary Vassiliadis issued a statement saying that initial findings echoed the FAA assessment.
Five inbound aircraft remains airborne during the incident, and aircraft on the ground held in the FAA said.
Air traffic recordings with the understanding of the pilots having trouble understanding the controller during radio communications. Some people are talking about themselves being something being amiss.
At one point, the controller sounds sleepy and apologizes over the radio, saying she is "choking a little bit." Minutes later, she misstates an aircraft's call numbers. Finally, her microphone opens to the sound of coughing and grunting.
She does not respond to a pilot's inquiry before the sound of a male voice is heard in the room asking if the woman is all right.
Officials said to a male controller who had been on the road. Paramedics responded.
The FAA said the woman was in charge of the office, and the agency ordered two controllers in the tower during busy hours.
"The FAA is deeply concerned by the incident, is thoroughly investigating what occurred, and is taking immediate steps to change its overnight shift staffing policies," the agency statement said.
McCarran is among the 10 busiest airports in the U.S. in passenger volume. The unidentified controller worked for the aircraft before it was replaced by the FAA said.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association chief Paul Rinaldi issued a statement in the FAA investigation "so that all of the facts are known."
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