Air Traffic Chief Resigns Amid Rash of Sleeping Controllers

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) -- The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says the agency's top official overseeing the nation's air traffic system has resigned following disclosures of controllers falling asleep on the job.

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

Babbitt said he is conducting a "top to bottom" review of the FAA's entire air traffic system. He said recent disclosures of "unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals" have rightly caused the traveling public to question the system.

"Over the last few weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct on the part of a few individuals that have rightly caused the traveling public to question our ability to ensure their safety," Babbitt in a statement. "This conduct must stop immediately."

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