Obviously the full story is yet to come out, but both the snippet from the passengers and the journalistic approach are, as usual, indicative of the general publics' lack of knowledge of what an air traffic controller actually does.
From a passenger, a Mr Jones (appropriate for Cardiff)
"In this day and age, that something like this should happen, is just disgusting."
I fully agree, just when are NATS going to supply us with those colostomy bags we asked for when undertaking night duties?!!
Van Der Hum,
Apparently the captain told the punters that "the person qualified to land this plane is on a break". So that would be him and the first officer then.
Or is it pilot code for "the autopilot has broken"!!!