ALCOA (WATE) - The FAA is taking steps to fire an air traffic controller who was found intentionally sleeping during his shift at McGhee Tyson Airport.
The controller, whose name was not released, was working the midnight shift on February 19 while he was on duty in the radar room at the airport.
Sources tell ABC News the sleeping controller made a bed on the floor with couch pillows from the employee break room, and a blanket.
The FAA says during that shift, the airport control tower was staffed with one air traffic controller who worked both the radar and tower positions from the tower cab. Because the radar controller was unresponsive, the tower controller handled seven aircraft over a five-hour period.
All aircraft landed safely during the time the air controller was asleep. Those flights included a Delta Connection arriving from LaGuardia and at least four Lifeguard flights with an urgent medical mission.
The snoozing controller did respond to one radio call, sounding groggy.
The accused air traffic controller will have time to respond to the allegations, so there is no time table for being fired.
McGhee Tyson Airport is considered an "up-down facility," meaning the airport control tower and the radar room at the Terminal Radar Approach Control are each staffed on separate floors with one controller during the midnight shift.
On Capitol Hill, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt was angry. "It was unfortunately willful, and we are in the process of disciplinary proceedings which will terminate this employee."
Passengers who spoke with 6 News Wednesday at the airport say the incident won't keep them from flying.
"I think it would be a problem no matter what airport it happened at," said Wayne Kiser, of Allentown Pennsylvania. "I fly nationwide and internationally and obviously that person has a tremendous responsibility for the safety for the airline passengers, so they really need to be in a situation where the don't fall asleep during work."
"I have some faith in the system, the FAA, that things will be taken care of and handled appropriately to the best of the ability of the people involved, and that things will continue to change and improve in air safety has it has over the past many years," Barb Kiser added.
"The FAA will not tolerate this type of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior," the agency said in a statement released Wednesday. "The agency is committed to ensuring the safety of the traveling public and is conducting a nationwide review of the air traffic control system, including overnight staffing at selected airports around the country."
