GOP Rep. Mica slams FAA decision to add air-traffic controllers

Mica has said recently that sleeping air-traffic controllers should be fired or disciplined, not given more colleagues.

He and other members of the committee will meet Thursday with officials from the FAA to discuss the recent incidents.

The FAA originally added a second person to the tower at Washington’s Reagan National Airport in March after two planes were forced to land without assistance when a controller working a fourth consecutive overnight shift was sleeping.

Two other controllers were later reported to be sleeping at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Nevada and at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tenn.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday he was “outraged” by the incidents.