Air Traffic Controller Suspended After Teen Son Gives Takeoff Clearance To Packed Airbus A330 [Roundup]

News and notes from around the interweb:

  • Air Traffic Controller Lets Son Clear Packed Airbus A330 For Takeoff during unauthorized visit to the tower.

    During his 50-minute visit to the tower, the 18-year-old gave Avianca flight AV-217 Buenos Aires, operated by Spanish charter carrier Wamos Air, clearance to take off.

    The Airbus A330 aircraft used for this flight has a capacity for 391 passengers.

    Colombia’s Aeronáutica Civil has suspended the licenses of two of the air traffic controllers in the wake of the scandal, while disciplinary proceedings have been opened against five other controllers who were on duty in the tower at the time of the boy’s visit.

  • “As a society we should never have agreed” to self-check your bags. “Now I just worked a part-time shift at the airport.”

  • Looking forward to seeing this American Airlines A321XLR in person finally.

  • Capital One points transfer to Avianca LifeMiles with 15% bonus through August 31, 2025. Definitely not worth it for speculative transfers, but if you’re transferring anyway this could be helpful.

  • I dunno, feels like a game that would help pass the time in coach on a long international flight.

  • Of all the people who deserve to have a bad flight, and American Airlines decides to finally deliver a good one.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Comments

  1. Wishing bad fortune on those who disagree with you politically… that’s so tolerant, progressive and enlightened of you. Well, at least like most progressives you’re not rioting or committing assault, so nice restraint I guess.

  2. I don’t see a problem with the Air Traffic Controller letting his son issue clearance’s as long as it was not a busy time and he was standing by to take over if needed, the boy obviously had some experience watching his father. Isn’t that how most Father’s inspire their children to follow in his footsteps?
    No one suffered any delays or conflicts and no airplanes crashed, no harm, no foul!

  3. Oh, Mantis, it sounds like you’ve received plenty of opprobrium. Sometimes it’s not just a mere disagreement, dear.

  4. “Looking forward to seeing this American Airlines A321XLR in person finally.” Me too, brother, me too….

    @Mantis — Pot calling the kettle black, much? Pft. Aren’t also you one of the few who dish out ‘cry harder,’ TDS, and ‘F your feelings’? Where’s @Walter Barry, @Andy S, and the other bigots?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *