A flight from Paris to Ajaccio was forced to circle for nearly an hour Monday evening after the air traffic controller in the control tower fell asleep.
Air Corsica Flight XK777, operating between Paris-Orly and Ajaccio on Monday, September 15, experienced an unusual incident: for nearly an hour, the aircraft had to circle above Corsica without being able to land. The dramatic incident unfolded when the air traffic controller on duty in the Ajaccio tower had… fallen asleep, according to local newspaper Corse Matin.
A Perfect Storm of Problems
Upon arrival for approach, the A320 (registration F-HXKJ) received no response from the control tower, and critically, the runway lighting was not illuminated.
The flight, which had already departed Paris an hour late, found itself in an increasingly precarious situation as the crew attempted to establish contact with ground control. The captain finally contacted the airport firefighters directly, who themselves alerted the gendarmerie after noting the lack of response from the tower.
Emergency Protocols Activated
With no response from air traffic control and the runway in darkness, the possibility of diverting to Bastia was considered during this intermission. The situation represented a serious breach of standard aviation safety protocols, as commercial aircraft require both air traffic control clearance and proper runway lighting for safe landings.
Airport firefighters were dispatched to the control tower to investigate the situation, but found no response from the controller. It was only after local police were notified and became involved that the situation was resolved, allowing the sleeping controller to be awakened and normal operations to resume.
Captain’s Unprecedented Experience
“In several decades of career, I had never had to manage such a scenario,” the pilot confided to his passengers, according to Corse Matin’s reporting. The veteran captain’s reaction underscores just how unusual this incident was in commercial aviation.
Finally, the controller responded and the aircraft was able to land without difficulty. Flight tracking data shows that the Air Corsica flight operated by an A320neo departed Orly with a 27-minute delay and landed in Ajaccio with a delay of one hour and 18 minutes.
Safety Protocols Under Question
If the situation resolved without material or human consequences, the incident raises questions about the organization and security of air traffic control in Corsica. Aviation safety experts note that normally, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) imposes redundancies to prevent an airport from relying on a single controller, particularly in the evening, when the activation of runway lighting systems is essential.
Systemic Issues in Air Traffic Control
This episode, rare in metropolitan France, occurs as air traffic controller unions regularly warn about understaffing and fatigue among their teams. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about working conditions and staffing levels in French aviation.
