Controller 'missing' as flight heads for landing

The Ministry of Transport in Guyana says it has suspended an air traffic controller who walked off the job and left the tower unattended while a flight was approaching the South American country.

A statement issued by the ministry says the controller and two other staff members have been suspended pending an investigation.

A spokesman said Tuesday that the other two staff members who were suspended were a supervisor and a co-worker who had been scheduled to relieve the controller.

The controller walked off the job apparently out of frustration that his co-worker did not show up to relieve him Friday. At the time, a Caribbean Airways Boeing 737 with about 100 people on board was 10 minutes from landing. A manager went to the tower and took over.

 Homepage image courtesy SHUTTERSTOCK

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