Omani Air Traffic Controller Wins Praise for Safety First in Tense Situation!

Things got a little tense in the skies near Salalah Airport when a Turkish Airlines flight and an Omani air traffic controller had a classic standoff over altitude. The pilot wanted to stick to 3,600 feet, but the controller was all about that 2,200-foot minimum. Safety first, always!

Omani controller stood firm on safety

The Omani air traffic controller made it crystal clear: instructions are instructions. When the Turkish Airlines TYJ crew said they could only descend to 3,600 feet due to missing minimum altitude charts and company rules, the controller insisted on 2,200 feet, the safe minimum for the approach path. The message? ‘You’re under my guidance now, and safety isn’t up for negotiation.’

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Pilot stuck to company rules

The Turkish pilot wasn’t budging either. He politely but firmly repeated that he could only accept 3,600 feet, citing company procedures and the lack of minimum altitude charts. The back-and-forth continued, with the pilot suggesting they could discuss it after landing and asking to be sequenced accordingly. It was a respectful but determined exchange on both sides.

Online praise for cool heads

A clip of the exchange quickly made the rounds online, with many praising the Omani controller for keeping safety the top priority. Comments like ‘Thank you to the observation tower and its staff, we are proud of you’ showed just how much people appreciate a steady hand in the control tower. In the end, both sides kept things professional, proving that in aviation, safety always comes first—even if it means a little friendly turbulence on the radio!

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