NATCA Mourns Loss of Veteran Miami Tower Controller and Union Facility Representative Narciso Torres
WASHINGTON – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is shocked and extremely saddened to report the passing of veteran Miami Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT, MIA) controller and devoted Union member Narciso Torres, who was aboard a single-engine Cessna 172 that crash-landed Saturday on the Haulover Inlet Bridge north of Miami Beach, Fla.
Torres served as NATCA’s local facility representative at MIA since Oct. 1, 2019 and worked as an air traffic controller at MIA since June 2015. He began his FAA career in May 2008 at Orlando International ATCT (MCO), transferred to New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON, N90) for one year in 2010, and returned to MCO in July 2011, where he served as the NATCA facility representative from January 2013 to May 2015.
“This is a terrible tragedy that has sent shock waves throughout our NATCA family,” NATCA President Rich Santa said. “Our hearts go out to Narciso’s wife, Jennifer, his entire family, and the many fellow Union brothers and sisters that loved him so much and are now dealing with an unspeakable loss. Narciso touched so many people with his warmth and kindness, both within NATCA, in the facilities he worked, and in every interaction he had. He gave so much of his time to representing his members at MIA, and before that at MCO, and worked extremely hard on behalf of this Union to improve the working conditions of all controllers and the safety of the National Airspace System.
“Like so many thousands of our members, Narciso had such a deep love of all things aviation, and of flying, as evidenced by this flight on a beautiful South Florida day where he was doing what he loved. This loss hurts so deeply. Narciso will never be forgotten.”
CONTACT: Doug Church, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, 301-346-8245.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals. NATCA was certified in 1987 by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Today, NATCA is one of the strongest labor unions in the federal sector and represents a range of aviation safety professionals in 15 FAA bargaining units, 5 Department of Defense air traffic facilities, and 123 federal contract towers. These air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and make modern life possible by coordinating the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of nearly one billion aviation passengers and millions of tons of freight within the National Airspace System each year. NATCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
