Reno Tower News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Controller was asleep. the pilot's call signal you will hear is cheyenne lifeguard. 2:00 a.m. in the skies over reno. >> lifeguard -- >> reporter: the pilot of this medevac plane with a seriously ill patient onboard urgently needed to land. >> reno tower -- >> reporter: no answer from the tower, but radar controllers in northern california were listening. >> we're going to call him on the phone lines. >> all right. we'll circle. >> reporter: despite phone calls to the reno tower, still no answer. finally the medevac pilot told california controllers he couldn't wait any longer. >> we've got a ...

And that it was used out of frustration in the heat of the game, and he claims his words do not reflect his feelings toward the gay community. he personally apologized to at least one gay rights leader and will be meeting with other gay rights advocates. every air traffic controller tower now in the country has at least two controllers on the job during the overnight hours. the change was announced after yet another incident where a controller nodded off while a plane was trying to land. but experts who study sleep patterns see a broader problem. controllers being bounced from days to nights...

>> all right. we'll circle some more. >> despite phone calls to the reno tower, still no answer. finally the medevac pilot told california controllers he couldn't wait any longer. >> we got a pretty sick patient. we may just have to land. >> okay. roger. landing is at your own risk. last reported wind was calm. >> the faa says the controller two years on the job admits he fell asleep. >> this is outrageous, tom. we will not tolerate this kind of activity in control towers in america. >> the problem for the faa? this is hardly the first case of controllers sleeping on the job. on march 23rd, tw...

>> get ahold of the tower here. >> reporter: minutes pass, still no answer. >> we may just have to land whether we have clearance or not. >> reporter: the aircraft landed with no guidance from the tower. it turns out, the lone air traffic control on duty was sleeping. it's the latest in a series of similar incidents. in march, a controller at d.c.'s reagan national airport nodded off on his fourth overnight shift in a row. in february a controller in tennessee didn't just fall asleep, he'd made a bed out of pillows on the floor. >> this is just outrageous behavior that will not be tolerated by...

We'll get the latest on the father's arrest. and later in this half hour, the company that promises to fight the irs on your behalf, now we'll show you why tax masters is under investigation in several states. a very interesting behind-the-scenes look at this company. >> it certainly is and who hasn't seen those commercials especially this time of year? every other second it seems like. >> tax day monday. >> yep. but first major new steps to ensure airline passengers' safety. as of right now, every air traffic control facility in the company. >> now the immediate change was ordered after y...