What do you get when the air traffic controller oversleeps? On the Greek island of Lesbos, it meant that two aircraft transporting passengers had to circle the airport until he arrived. The planes landed safely approximately 30 minutes later.
Two planes were forced to circle Mytilini airport at Lesbos (Lesvos),
a Greek island. Why?
According to an
ABC news article, the air traffic controller had overslept and was late for work apparently leaving the two planes without permission to land.
The Transport Ministry will launch a probe into the incident at the airport in the island of Lesbos that delayed a domestic flight from Athens and a charter from Slovakia, the YPA aviation agency said.
He blamed his tardiness on a broken alarm on his mobile phone, according to Greek Television.
The airport's director had to contact a "colleague" of the air traffic controller to wake him up in order to get the planes landed safely. Athens airport is approximately 50 minutes away.
Greece was already under scrutiny by the European Commission for airport safety. The Transport Ministry is investigating the incident.
Lesbos, the third largest of the Greek Islands, is rich in history and where Mount Olympos can be found. As it sounds, the name gives rise to the word lesbian which comes from the poetry of Sappho who was born in Lesbos. The poetry is said to be directed towards other females and often interpreted in an expression of homosexual love. Lesbos is a popular lesbian tourist attraction.
Air Traffic Controller Oversleeps, Creating Dilemma on Island Of Lesbos
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