FAA probes whether planes rerouted to test trainee

[October 15, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal aviation officials are investigating whether air traffic controllers violated federal rules when they rerouted four airliners to test the skills of a controller-trainee.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Tuesday that a preliminary inquiry indicates four flights were rerouted near Savannah, Ga., on Saturday. The government says the passengers were never in danger.

The aircraft were rerouted at the direction of a supervisor at the air traffic control center in Jacksonville, Fla. A union official said four airliners operated by Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Southwest were detoured into an area between Jacksonville and Savannah, Ga., where there were reports of thunderstorms.

The FAA denied there were thunderstorms in the region.

[Associated Press; By JOAN LOWY]

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