NY jets "directed" by child

At one of the US's busiest airports, officials are investigating how a child apparently directed planes preparing for take-off last month. The investigation follows the release of an audiotape which caught a child's voice broadcasting to pilots from an air traffic control tower.

In one exchange, the audiotape captured the boy saying, "Jetblue 171 contact departure," with the pilot responding, "Over to departure Jetblue 171, awesome job."

While the real essence of this story is best summed up by the fact that the boy on the recording was there with his father - a certified air traffic controller - and was off school, the issue has raised significant questions about airport security levels. At one point on the recording an adult voice - presumably that of the the boy's father - tells pilots, "That's what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school."

And while some might argue that the incident is nothing but harmless fun for a young boy spending the day at his dad's place of work - New York's JFK airport - others are taking it far more seriously.

Professionalism

For one, the pilots on the tape appear to be unconcerned that a child is giving them instructions and the incident, which seems to have happened on 17 February, when many New York pupils were on a week-long break, is causing a real stir for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In a statement yesterday the FAA said that "pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic.

"This behaviour is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the incident was "not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safety."

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