An Air Corsica Airbus A320 from Paris Orly to Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport circled for 18 minutes on 15 September 2025 after the sole air traffic controller fell asleep, leaving the runway unlit and unresponsive.
Firefighters and police accessed the tower, found the controller asleep at his desk, woke him, and he activated the lights for a safe landing at 12:35 local time.
The flight, already delayed by an hour, avoided diversion to Bastia due to the dark 2,400m runway; the controller tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
The French Civil Aviation Authority opened an internal investigation, scheduling an occupational health check and superior meeting with possible sanctions.
Staffing met requirements with two controllers, the second on a four-hour break; French controllers have raised pay and conditions issues causing fatigue.
An Air Corsica Airbus A320 captain shared: “In a career of several decades I have never had to handle such a situation. We did a little tour. At no time was there any panic. Everyone stayed calm. The passengers treated the incident with good humour.”
