A day after the latest incident of an air traffic controller falling asleep on the job, the man responsible for overseeing them resigned.
Stepping down is Hank Krakowski, who has been the head of the FAA Air Traffic Organization. David Grizzle, the FAA's chief counsel, will be the acting chief of the unit during a search to fill the post, according to Randy Babbitt, the agency's administrator.
"Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety. This conduct must stop immediately," Babbitt said in a statement.
"I am committed to maintaining the highest level of public confidence and that begins with strong leadership."
No one seriously believes this was voluntary. This came less than 24 hours after the lone controller at Reno-Tahoe International Airport fell asleep while a plane with a critically ill patient was trying to land. Since then, we've had incidents in Knoxville and at Boeing Field in Seattle.
Babbitt got it half right in his statement. The FAA bears a good measure of responsibility for even considering having one controller late at night. Remember, that controller who fell asleep at National Airport was working his fourth straight overnight shift.