Air Traffic Controller Falls Asleep, Pilots Circles Near This Airport

AJACCIO- On Monday, September 15, 2025, an Air Corsica (XK) flight from Paris-Orly (ORY) to Ajaccio (AJA) experienced an unusual delay when an air traffic controller fell asleep, leaving the aircraft in a holding pattern over Corsica. The aircraft was an Airbus A320neo registered F-HXKJ.

The flight, XK777, was scheduled to leave ORY at 21:50 and arrive in AJA at 23:25. Instead, it departed at 22:46, and the flight time was much greater than was estimated

Photo: Anna Zvereva | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Corsica,_F-HZDP,_Airbus_A320-216_(49565562072).jpg

The Descent and Holding

XK777 climbed as high as 37,000 feet. While descending through approximately 15,000 feet, the crew found that runway lights at Napoleon Bonaparte Airport were switched off.

The tower controller ceased responding to radio calls. The pilots then entered a holding pattern over the Gulf of Ajaccio, reported One Mile at a Time.

The crew attempted to contact the airport fire department, hoping someone would provide information. When that failed, they escalated the issue to local police. Meanwhile, they prepared for diversion to Bastia (BIA), about 56 miles away.

The aircraft circled for about 30 minutes before communication with the air traffic controller resumed. Once contact was re-established, the controller reported having fallen asleep while on duty.

Because of this disruption, the flight landed in AJA at 00:35, approximately 70 minutes after its scheduled arrival. The total flight time was 109 minutes.

Photo: Laurent ERRERA | Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airbus_A320-200_Air_Corsica_(CCM)_%22Supporter_officiel_Tour_de_France_2013%22_F-HBMF_-_MSN_4463_-_Named_I_Sanguinari_(9741116382).jpg

Implications for Air Traffic Safety

This incident raises serious concerns about fatigue management and staffing at air traffic control facilities. Controllers must maintain vigilance, especially during critical phases like final approach. When runway lighting is off and radio communication fails, risk increases sharply.

Holding patterns serve as a safety buffer but impose operational cost, fuel burn, and passenger inconvenience. Aviation regulators may review current rules or oversight mechanisms to ensure controllers cannot fall asleep on duty.

While rare, similar incidents have happened in the past where controllers or crews lost alertness. For example, there were occasions in 2022 when pilots themselves became unresponsive due to falling asleep, and flights required unusual holding or rerouting.

One of these incidents took place on an ITA Airways transatlantic flight, while the other one took place on an Ethiopian Airlines flight when both pilots fell asleep.

These past events underline the need for strict protocols and checks.

Photo: Alipho | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tour_controle_ajaccio.JPG

Bottom Line

On September 15, 2025, Air Corsica flight XK777 from ORY to AJA was delayed substantially when the runway lights were off and its air traffic controller fell asleep. The aircraft circled for about 30 minutes before landing 70 minutes late.

This event spotlights safety risks in air traffic control, emphasizes vigilance, and may prompt review of staffing and sleep-management standards.

Aviation stakeholders must ensure such incidents remain exceedingly rare.

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