Child air traffic controller at JFK Airport?: FAA investigation

Take Your Child to Work Day gone too far?

There are reports this morning that a child was allowed to stand in as an air traffic controller for a JetBlue flight and another flight to Mexico at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

At one point, an adult voice remarks, “Wish I could bring my kid to work.”

Apparently there’s a recording of the incident among the Interesting Recordings at air-traffic audio site LiveATC.net. A February 17 entry there is titled “New KJFK Controller? ? ?” — but some sort of registration seems to be required and we can’t find our wallet.

Happily, the Associated Press has distilled that audio recording into the following clip:

The “Adios, amigos” is a nice touch.

NBC News had the story too.

After listening to all this, if you haven’t already, you may want to check out the recent Frontline installment from Miles O’Brien, “Flying Cheap.”