LISTEN: Delta pilot snaps at air-traffic controller in heated exchange


Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is looking into a tense exchange between a pilot and an air-traffic controller.

According to WSB-TV – Atlanta, the exchange happened Friday when a controller told a pilot his plane was approaching the wrong taxiway.

“Hey, you know what? We’ll taxi out there any way we want unless you tell us to. I don’t like your attitude,” the pilot said.

“I don’t have an attitude; I’m just saying it looks like you joined Lima [a taxiway] instead of Mike [another taxiway], and I’m just trying to correct you before you stay on Lima,” the air-traffic controller responded.
"Like, oh my God, there's another plane out there, like six miles away. Your attitude is really something, sir. We're out here on Mike. Good morning,” the pilot said.

"Good morning. There was no attitude. I was just trying to correct you. That's my job to correct you if you mess up, and make sure everybody's doing what I ask them to do for certain reasons," the air-traffic controller responded.

“All right, I make a mistake every two to three minutes, but my attitude is not like yours. We're out on Mike, and you didn't tell us how to get there, so next time you can try doing that,” the pilot said.
Another pilot on the same frequency can be heard telling the pilot, "Settle down, Capt. Happy."
Delta says customer safety was never in question.