Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Joe Sommerlad

Thousands of video gamers hired to tackle air traffic controller shortage

  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced that 2,000 video gamers have been hired as air traffic controllers to help address a national staffing shortage.
  • Duffy hailed the recruitment drive as a success and revealed that a further 2,000 candidates are currently in the pipeline.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration defended the strategy, saying that gaming experience develops quick thinking, focus, and complex management abilities.
  • Aerospace experts and social media commentators expressed scepticism, warning that gaming skills do not replace discipline or real-world decision-making under pressure.
  • Despite concerns over actual certification rates, the policy received praise from high-profile figures including hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and actress Justine Bateman.

IN FULL

Alarm after Trump admin hires 2,000 gamers to fill air traffic controller jobs: ‘If they f*** up, people die’

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.