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Very disturbing radio transmissions of the tower controller who is experiencing a stroke while on duty. We can learn from this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1kmuFOhWk

Prayers sent ,sad I heard on the TODAY SHOW she been fired!

howdy wrote: Mon Nov 12, 2018 4:37 pm We can learn from this.

Reason #3,461 not to fly unless absolutely necessary?

bblhd672 wrote: Mon Nov 12, 2018 5:17 pm
Reason #3,461 not to fly unless absolutely necessary?

Despite big-budget Hollywood films' depictions of plane crashes, flying is actually the safest mode of transportation. In fact, the odds of a plane crash are one for every 1.2 million flights, with odds of dying one in 11 million. Your chances of dying in a car or traffic accident are one in 5,000.Aug 2, 2017

I have not seen anything else that says it was a stroke but she has left the FAA. From the Los Vegas Review Journal, earlier today:
"A representative of the agency didn’t say Monday whether the controller resigned or was fired nor whether its investigation of the incident has been concluded, citing privacy concerns.

The FAA said Friday there were no safety events or losses of required separation between aircraft during the incident between 11:09 and 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, when the female controller began slurring words, gave incoherent commands to pilots, began coughing, then went silent.

FAA officials declined comment on whether they believed the controller suffered a medical emergency, but paramedics were dispatched to the tower when the incident was reported Wednesday."

G26ster wrote: Mon Nov 12, 2018 5:33 pm

bblhd672 wrote: Mon Nov 12, 2018 5:17 pm
Reason #3,461 not to fly unless absolutely necessary?

Despite big-budget Hollywood films' depictions of plane crashes, flying is actually the safest mode of transportation. In fact, the odds of a plane crash are one for every 1.2 million flights, with odds of dying one in 11 million. Your chances of dying in a car or traffic accident are one in 5,000.Aug 2, 2017

I know the stats. The other 3,460 reasons are poor customer service, baggage handling and TSA agents! From listening to the audio its apparent to me the professionalism of the pilots was instrumental (no pun intended) in avoiding potential disaster.

bblhd672 wrote: Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:16 pm
I know the stats. The other 3,460 reasons are poor customer service, baggage handling and TSA agents! From listening to the audio its apparent to me the professionalism of the pilots was instrumental (no pun intended) in avoiding potential disaster.

Can't argue with your 3460 reasons, but this thread appeared to be about safety and not about the other 3460 reasons you cited. If it is about those, ignore my input.

As the OP I was referring to stroke symptoms. I am a retired Delta pilot and I can assure you the Pilots were going to do NOTHING without clear instructions from the tower/ground control. There is certain phraseology that is required to make everything legal. We live in a litigious society that requires all T's be crossed and I's dotted. We could not say "Check" if the checklist read "Checked". That is why the pilots were requiring the Controller to say certain phrases a certain way. No one moves unless it is done right. That is why the system is so safe. That is why some airline employees and passengers think Pilots are pompous jerks. (some are) We have to have it perfect because our job and maybe our lives depend on it. You don't have a 30+ year career doing dumb things.

So, was the controller at fault for not recognizing her medical emergency? Does a stroke victim understand what is going on, or at least know that it's time to call may-day? If anyone should, it should be a controller, but I don't know the regimen.

bbhack wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 12:32 pm So, was the controller at fault for not recognizing her medical emergency? Does a stroke victim understand what is going on, or at least know that it's time to call may-day? If anyone should, it should be a controller, but I don't know the regimen.

When my wife had a stroke (TIA), she thought she was fine. Her sluring, etc. was my alert to get help. Same with my boss, he was standing outside in front of the building smoking a cigarette. When I talked to him, his responses were complete babble. I called another worker outside, and we agreed to call for help. So, I'm not sure that a person recognizes they are having a stroke. At least not immediately.

G26ster wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:07 pm When my wife had a stroke (TIA), she thought she was fine. Her sluring, etc. was my alert to get help. Same with my boss, he was
...

I've heard this many times. If she was separated, it was probably not from fault. I can see how she could never return to work as a controller, although there are other positions that would be OK.

bbhack wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:54 pm

G26ster wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:07 pm When my wife had a stroke (TIA), she thought she was fine. Her sluring, etc. was my alert to get help. Same with my boss, he was
...

I've heard this many times. If she was separated, it was probably not from fault. I can see how she could never return to work as a controller, although there are other positions that would be OK.

Obviously her age has not been disclosed, but since strokes are much more likely the further advanced in age you are a mutual separation may have been agreed upon.

I haven't seen a link where she said she was fired?

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/inca ... 25525/amp/

They don't indicate it was voluntary or not - but would your first impulse be to resign after a medical emergency? I think leave would appropriate, even if there was no chance she would ever return to the tower. I think the FAA may be managing optics, which is OK, just seems different.

bbhack wrote: Tue Nov 13, 2018 2:51 pm https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/inca ... 25525/amp/

They don't indicate it was voluntary or not - but would your first impulse be to resign after a medical emergency? I think leave would appropriate, even if there was no chance she would ever return to the tower. I think the FAA may be managing optics, which is OK, just seems different.

A representative of the agency didn’t say Monday whether the controller resigned or was fired nor whether its investigation of the incident has been concluded, citing privacy concerns.

Its quite possible she simple decided it was time to retire anyway. Either way is speculation.

Best of luck to her! It seems the built-in system safeties overcame one of the worst possible cases of system failure (unrecognized human failure). The other worst-case system failures being equipment failures and negligence/intentional human failure.

Kudos to the pilots for sticking to the requirements and not making a 'guess' about what was meant (that lesson was learned at Tenerife and fortunately the applications from that lesson helped keep this problem for spiraling out of control).