The controller of the Las Vegas airport has heard his words as alarmed pilots react

LAS VEGAS – The federal and airport authorities are investigating the reasons why an air traffic controller became disabled and remained silent while working alone at night in the busy McCarran International Airport Tower, in Las Vegas. CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that in the air traffic audio of the incident, the controller seemed to become incoherent and was not responding at all until he was discovered by another controller returning from break.

"The FAA is very concerned about this incident and what has happened is not acceptable," said a spokesman for the agency at CBS News.

One can hear the controller reproach her words, confuse the flight numbers and be incoherent before an alarming open microphone incident where one can hear her coughing and choking.

At one point, a pilot on a flight waiting to depart asks: "Is there anyone up there who knows what he's doing?"

Later in the incident, one of the flights announced by radio: "I hate asking that, but do you have a supervisor?"

Another pilot replied, "Something is wrong."

"Something is happening up there," said another concerned driver.

On Friday, the FAA changed its staffing rules to ensure the presence of two controllers in the tower before midnight.

"There were no security incidents in this incident," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement recounting what authorities said was a 40-minute period during which the controller apparently reported lost consciousness shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

"An air controller from the Las Vegas tower became disabled while he was on duty," the agency said. He did not identify the controller or the cause of his disability.

The airport manager, Rosemary Vassiliadis, said in a statement that initial findings echoed the FAA's assessment.

Five incoming aircraft remained in flight during the incident, and ground aircraft maintained positions or communicated with each other to maintain security while moving, the FAA said.

Air traffic records available on the Internet show that commercial airline pilots have difficulty understanding the controller during radio communications on landing approaches, takeoff clearances, and taxi directions. Some begin to talk to each other about something that is wrong.

At one point, the controller seems sleepy and apologizes on the radio saying that she "chokes a little bit". A few minutes later, she gives erroneous information about the numbers of a plane call. Finally, his microphone opens to the sound of coughing and growling.

She does not respond to the pilot's request before the sound of a male voice sounds in the room and asks if the woman is fine.

According to officials, a controller on break had been summoned to return to the tower. The paramedics responded.

The FAA stated that the woman had been placed on administrative leave and that she had ordered two controllers to be in the tower during rush hours.

McCarran is one of the 10 busiest airports in the United States by passenger volume. The unidentified controller worked for just over an hour before the trouble began and communicated with the pilots of 29 aircraft before his replacement, the FAA said.

The head of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, Paul Rinaldi, issued a statement hailing the work of thousands of union members in the country and promising cooperation as part of the FAA's investigation. so that all the facts are known. "