An air traffic controller who allegedly joked to a pilot that he couldn’t land is being investigated after the plane was forced to circle a busy airport for an hour and a half.

As Delta Flight 360 came in to land at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the controller reportedly joked that the plane couldn’t land.

However, according to local news organisation 11Alive Atlanta, the pilot had already changed course, ascending back to 40,000ft after aborting the landing.

The plane was then forced to circle the airport for an hour and a half while the situation on the ground was clarified and the plane could land safely.

An FAA spokesperson told 11Alive that there was never any danger for the pilot and passengers.

A spokesperson said: ‘The FAA is investigating air traffic communications with Delta 630, a Boeing 777 aircraft on approach to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.’

 Անկախ