Florida Air-Traffic Controller Sleeps On The Job

MIAMI - The lone air-traffic controller at the Palm Beach Airport kicked off his shoes and fell asleep in the tower while apparently cleaning his pistol, forcing a jetliner to land without guidance, authorities say.

The pilot of the Delta Air Lines flight from Sacramento, Calif., circled the airport, unable to raise the tower, before safely landing with more than 40 people aboard April 29.

Fearing the controller was ill, sheriff's deputies obtained the access codes to the electronic lock on the tower door and found a shoeless Rodney Tatum apparently just waking up, Sgt. Bruce Barkdoll said.

"Rodney Tatum said that he had fallen asleep," Barkdoll said.

A gun and ammunition were on the table, and a nearby kit indicated Tatum may have been cleaning the pistol, Barkdoll said.

It is against regulations to have a weapon in the tower, Federal Aviation Administration regional spokeswoman Anne Eldridge said yesterday.

Three private planes also were unable to contact the tower during a 39-minute span, Eldridge said.

No immediate charges were filed. The 36-year-old controller remains on the job but was moved to the day shift and won't work alone pending the outcome of the investigation, Eldridge said

Deputies said there was no indication Tatum was drunk or on drugs.

It is not uncommon for airports with few night flights to have only one controller on duty. Eldridge said Palm Beach averages 20 operations - takeoffs, landings, planes flying through the airspace - between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.