FAA official resigns after sleeping controllers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The official who oversees the nation's air traffic system resigned today and the Federal Aviation Administration began a "top-to-bottom" review of the entire system after disclosures of four instances of air traffic controllers sleeping on the job.

FAA chief Randy Babbitt said in a statement that Hank Krakowski, the head of the agency's Air Traffic Organization, had submitted his resignation. He said David Grizzle, FAA's chief counsel, will temporarily take over for Krakowski while the agency searches for a replacement.

Babbitt moved on Wednesday to add a second overnight air traffic controller at more than two dozen airports around the country.

The controllers were added hours after a medical flight was unable to raise a lone controller working at 2 a.m. at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. FAA said the Reno controller, who was out of communication for 16 minutes, was sleeping. The plane landed safely with assistance from controllers at a regional radar facility in Northern California.

Babbitt said he would conduct a "top-to-bottom" review of FAA's entire air-traffic system.