There’s a major aviation controversy in Colombia, after it was discovered that a teenager was given “hands on” training in an air traffic control tower, down to giving planes takeoff clearance. Thanks to The Aviation Herald for flagging this.
In this post:
18-year-old gives pilots instructions in Bogota tower
Aerocivil, Colombia’s civil aviation authority, has suspended the licenses of several air traffic controllers at the country’s busiest airport. Specifically, this happened on July 21, 2025, at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG).
During this incident, one of the controllers reportedly allowed his 18-year-old son into the tower for nearly an hour, and he even gave instructions to pilots across a variety of interactions. The teenager may have had up to 20 interactions with pilots, including giving takeoff clearance to an aircraft.
This is a direct violation of Aerocivil regulations, which state that “under no circumstances may anyone outside the air traffic control services be permitted to manipulate the control communications equipment.”
Following the incident, Aerocivil took action, and has suspended the licenses of two air traffic controllers, while disciplinary action is being taken against five other controllers, who were complicit in this. Aerocivil intends to refer its findings to the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia, to decide whether the acts warrant criminal charges.
While Aerocivil has made it clear that this represents a “serious violation of air safety regulations,” it notes that at no point were active flight operations compromised. The air traffic controller who was the father of the teen suggested that this was “hands on” training, to support his son’s selection process to become an air traffic controller. Oh my…
What makes this situation so incredibly stupid
How was it actually determined that a teenager was in the air traffic control tower and giving instructions to pilots? Well, he posted video of him doing it on TikTok, of course.
The spectacularly bad judgment that people show in order to get a little attention on social media really is something. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised the teenager didn’t have better judgment, but maybe the air traffic controllers (including the teenager’s father) should have at least not taken videos of him, or should have insisted that he not post them online?
Now, call it a controversial take, but in theory I don’t have a huge issue with what happened. It’s not unheard of to have visitors in the air traffic control tower, so the only thing that was unusual here is that he was communicating with pilots (yes, obviously that’s a major detail).
But I imagine this guy was an aviation geek, and I imagine he was just parroting what he was told to say, and that his father was right there with him, watching everything that was going on, and ready to step in. This stuff shouldn’t happen, of course, because aviation needs to operate with as much of a safety margin as possible.
My point is simply to say that I don’t think anyone was put at risk here. It goes back to the safety margin, though, and when you start normalizing this kind of stuff, eventually something goes wrong. It’s a bit like the 1994 accident of Aeroflot flight 593, an Airbus A310 that crashed, killing all 75 people onboard. The reason? The pilot’s 15-year-old son was visiting the cockpit, and accidentally disengaged the autopilot.
Bottom line
Several air traffic controllers at Bogota Airport are facing disciplinary action, after one of the controllers allowed his son to get some “hands on” training, with him having transmitted as many as 20 communications to pilots.
This obviously violates regulations, never mind that this happened at the country’s busiest airport. Perhaps what makes this situation the most ridiculous is that the teen decided to post video of him doing this on social media, which shows bad judgment on so many levels.
What do you make of this Bogota ATC controversy?
Former ATC here. We always had plenty of tower visitors; no problem there. Ben, this nonsense is a hard “no”. No exceptions.
Unfortunately, what happens in the tower should stay in the tower. I’m sure this goes on all the time. How long could it take for the father to override something the sun may have said that was wrong, an eighth of a second. You don’t think the other controllers had an eye on them. Maybe it’s against the rules but there’s nothing that could’ve been corrected here in a split second.
I really don’t think that’s the case. As Ben and many others pointed out, Aeroflot 593 provides a vivid example how such an even seemingly “innocent” and overseen interruption by someone unqualified can have disastrous consequences. There is a very good reason aviation safety laws are multilayered and exacting, and don’t rely on anyone’s ‘common sense’.
Anyone involved in this incident deserves to be removed from the ATC system. It’s actually gratifying and reassuring...
I really don’t think that’s the case. As Ben and many others pointed out, Aeroflot 593 provides a vivid example how such an even seemingly “innocent” and overseen interruption by someone unqualified can have disastrous consequences. There is a very good reason aviation safety laws are multilayered and exacting, and don’t rely on anyone’s ‘common sense’.
Anyone involved in this incident deserves to be removed from the ATC system. It’s actually gratifying and reassuring to see Colombia treating this every bit as seriously as any North American or European state, good on them.
Dad what does this button do? Noooooo don't... Ok we have to leave the country now and go off grid.
Was it "Take your Kid to work Day"?
I remember there was an incident years ago at EWR or something like that where very late at night perhaps one of the controllers had his son visiting, and allowed him to give one ATC command to an aircraft just as a "fun" thing. And it got all sorts of investigation. It was clearly a child's voice, btw.
But this is way beyond that.
The child allowed to sit at the controls of Aeroflot 593 had 3 pilots looking over his shoulder and yet it ended in disaster. It may seem innocent enough to let him talk on the radio a bit, but this would be like using lube instead of dish soap on a slip-and-slide - it could go from fun to out of control faster than you can blink.
I'm willing to bet that this is not the first time this has happened, and will not be the last time...especially in many countries considered part of the global south or developing countries (and I'm from one). The stupid thing was posting it on tik tok. I'm not condoning it but it speaks often to the way people see things differently...a proud father showing off his smart "matured" son, or giving him hands-on experience. On...
I'm willing to bet that this is not the first time this has happened, and will not be the last time...especially in many countries considered part of the global south or developing countries (and I'm from one). The stupid thing was posting it on tik tok. I'm not condoning it but it speaks often to the way people see things differently...a proud father showing off his smart "matured" son, or giving him hands-on experience. On the other hand many of us will never understand the obsession many people in developed countries have with dogs and other pets. Dogs are often regarded as equal or even higher level than fellow humans
At least, not yet, we have dogs in the tower barking instructions...... Although if ATC were to be privatized I"m sure it could be considered !
... lol
Similar thing happened at JFK 15 years ago, Controller was suspended, but can't easily find what eventually happened. this article explains things nicely
https://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/03/air.traffic.child/index.html
Weird i just was watching an episode of air disasters where a russian pilot allow his kids into cockpit of 747 to fly the plane before it crashed.
It wasn't a 747, it was an A310.
Darn, I connected in BOG on the 19th... Lucky me, I guess.
The person in question should be fired simply because they clearly lack the level of judgement needed for this job.
Agreed! No retraining could possibly make up for this absolute lack of judgement.
No words for the stupidity.
" S.T.U.P.I.D " !