Another ATC Mass Poisoning

On Wednesday 09 May the Federal Aviation Administration allowed air traffic controllers to escape potentially deadly fumes, after smoke entered the Washington Dulles Airport tower. Doug Church, a spokesperson for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the FAA's union, said: "Four controllers are being treated on scene by paramedics." This second incident comes just seven days after air traffic controllers at the New York terminal radar approach control center (TRACON) were trapped and then forced to remain at their work stations after carbon monoxide entered their facility. Senator Chuck Schumer is demanding answers. His question is: "Why were the controllers at the New York TRACON forced to continue directing planes while suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning?" The answer was, of course, that controllers present and affected by the noxious fumes couldn't be released or relieved as the airspace was full of jets and the schedule's roster was already undermanned. Controllers are claiming that they were so sickened they could barely function, but were forced to remain on their positions for up to four hours. A test of the facility's backup generator had sent exhaust fumes into the building's ventilation system, slowly filling the room with potentially-deadly carbon monoxide. Soon at least half-a-dozen controllers were physically ill. Several controllers tested had high levels of dangerous carbon monoxide in their blood. As to why the test wasn't terminated? Nobody's saying, however Nassau County prosecutors are likely to open a criminal investigation into the NY controllers' enforced imprisonment.