Zzzzzhuh? What? PLANE INCOMING? Ohyes ohyes I forgot I was supposed to be keeping an eye on that--

A rest-minded doctor says the problem isn't with nap-prone air traffic controllers, it's with the brutally crazy and sleep-killing schedules they pull. Like that guy in Reno. Let them sleep:

It's a national emergency: air traffic controllers have fallen asleep in Reno, Washington, and several other cities. Planes carrying severely ill patients arrive at airports where "nobody" is in charge. The government head of air traffic control has been asked to resign.

What's going on?

It's very much the same situation that occurs with pilots: if you violate human nature and the need of all terrestrial creatures to rest, something's gotta give. In this case, it's sleep -- uncontrollable sleep.