Air Traffic Controller Involved In An Airplane Crash Tells How He Felt

This interview was conducted in 1968 shortly after what was called The Idlewild Crash, a collision involving TWA Flight 266 and United Airlines Flight 826. This accident occurred on December 16, 1960 over Staten Island, New York, near the approach to New York’s Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy Airport). The two aircraft—a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation and a United Airlines Douglas DC-8—collided in mid-air, resulting in both planes crashing. The TWA flight crashed on Staten Island, while the United flight crashed in Park Slope, Brooklyn. All 128 people on both aircraft were killed, along with six people on the ground. The collision occurred as both planes were approaching Idlewild Airport in poor visibility conditions. The exact sequence of events is complex, but the United DC-8 was flying faster than recommended and failed to make a required turn, putting it in the path of the TWA Super Constellation. The DC-8’s right wing struck the Super Constellation, leading to the tragic sequence of events that followed. The accident was a significant moment in aviation history and led to various changes in air traffic control and aviation safety procedures, including improvements in radar technology and an increased emphasis on collision avoidance systems. It also resulted in a push for better communication between air traffic control and pilots. The accident remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in U.S. history. In the 1960s, air traffic controllers faced a set of challenges that were significantly different from today’s environment. Technology was not as advanced, and many of the systems were less automated than what we have today. Some of the issues that they grappled with: Technological Limitations: The technology available to air traffic controllers during this time was much less sophisticated than it is today. Radar was less reliable, and communication systems were not as advanced. This made the job of managing increasing air traffic more difficult and stressful. Workload and Stress: The workload for controllers was heavy, and the stress levels were high. The air traffic was increasing, but the systems and procedures had not kept pace with the growth. This made for a difficult and often stressful working environment. Training and Staffing: Although training programs existed, they were often not as comprehensive as they are today. There were also issues with understaffing, which further increased the workload on existing controllers. Unionization: The late 1960s were a time of increasing labor unrest in many sectors in the U.S., including air traffic control. The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was founded in 1968 to represent the interests of controllers, although it would be more famously known for the strike in 1981 that led to the firing of over 11,000 air traffic controllers by President Ronald Reagan. Accidents: While air traffic controllers work hard to ensure the safety of flights, the limitations of the era meant that accidents did happen. However, attributing these directly to the actions of air traffic controllers can be complicated as accidents often result from a combination of factors, including pilot error, Improvements in technology, training, and procedures over the years have made air travel much safer. These advances were often catalyzed by tragic accidents that exposed weaknesses in the system and led to calls for reform. Overall, the profession has evolved significantly since the 1960s, with a strong focus on safety and efficiency. Please consider contributing to my efforts to present more clips from my archive by clicking the super thanks button below the video screen or by becoming a patron at Thank you David Hoffman Filmmaker