Andrew Tangel

When the FAA pulled off this move, they did so with a technological workaround, essentially. They didn't move a radar system or open up a new radar system. They opened up a satellite radar system that basically was just getting a feed via relay from the previous location on Long Island. And that introduced a lot of technological risks.

Every controller's nightmare is what happened at Reagan National in January, where a plane and a helicopter collided. That is, these are safety professionals behind the scenes. They do not want that to happen. And their tools are radar and radios. And when those go out, I've heard it compared to driving down the highway blindfolded and your hands tied.

Every controller's nightmare is what happened at Reagan National in January, where a plane and a helicopter collided. That is, these are safety professionals behind the scenes. They do not want that to happen. And their tools are radar and radios. And when those go out, I've heard it compared to driving down the highway blindfolded and your hands tied.

Every controller's nightmare is what happened at Reagan National in January, where a plane and a helicopter collided. That is, these are safety professionals behind the scenes. They do not want that to happen. And their tools are radar and radios. And when those go out, I've heard it compared to driving down the highway blindfolded and your hands tied.

The controllers were very shaken by this event on April 28th and the ones subsequent to it. And they were stressed out and they were worried about something bad happening. And after that event, four of them took stress-related trauma leave from their positions. And that added to the disruptions and staffing constraints at an already thinly staffed facility.

The controllers were very shaken by this event on April 28th and the ones subsequent to it. And they were stressed out and they were worried about something bad happening. And after that event, four of them took stress-related trauma leave from their positions. And that added to the disruptions and staffing constraints at an already thinly staffed facility.

The controllers were very shaken by this event on April 28th and the ones subsequent to it. And they were stressed out and they were worried about something bad happening. And after that event, four of them took stress-related trauma leave from their positions. And that added to the disruptions and staffing constraints at an already thinly staffed facility.

You yourself are on trauma leave right now, correct? Correct. Yes. Could you walk us through the close call on May 4th that led you to take that leave?

You yourself are on trauma leave right now, correct? Correct. Yes. Could you walk us through the close call on May 4th that led you to take that leave?

You yourself are on trauma leave right now, correct? Correct. Yes. Could you walk us through the close call on May 4th that led you to take that leave?

Overall, what's been the toll of the fatigue and stress of the job on you personally?

Overall, what's been the toll of the fatigue and stress of the job on you personally?

Overall, what's been the toll of the fatigue and stress of the job on you personally?

One thing we wanted to accomplish with the interview is just to humanize one of these air traffic controllers who are right in the middle of this. They are behind the scenes. They're the ones who are under pressure to keep the planes on time and keep everyone safe with the resources that they have or don't have.

One thing we wanted to accomplish with the interview is just to humanize one of these air traffic controllers who are right in the middle of this. They are behind the scenes. They're the ones who are under pressure to keep the planes on time and keep everyone safe with the resources that they have or don't have.

One thing we wanted to accomplish with the interview is just to humanize one of these air traffic controllers who are right in the middle of this. They are behind the scenes. They're the ones who are under pressure to keep the planes on time and keep everyone safe with the resources that they have or don't have.

I hope him coming forward helps personalize the situation and can help people at least see who the humans are behind the scenes. Is there anything you want to add? Anything I didn't ask about that I should have asked about?

I hope him coming forward helps personalize the situation and can help people at least see who the humans are behind the scenes. Is there anything you want to add? Anything I didn't ask about that I should have asked about?

I hope him coming forward helps personalize the situation and can help people at least see who the humans are behind the scenes. Is there anything you want to add? Anything I didn't ask about that I should have asked about?

They lost their radios and their radars for about 90 seconds, and they couldn't communicate with pilots. And that was a very scary situation for the controllers. They are managing Busy, complex airspace, and they keep airplanes safely separated. They tell them where to go, where to point the nose, how fast to go, all of that, and keep them out of harm's way.