The Leesburg, Va. control center was evacuated last night because of suspicious fumes.

Members of the U.S. Senate realized they’d rather not face those pesky, sequestration-induced airport delays.

Air traffic controllers at Reagan Washington National Airport nearly caused a horrific midair accident when they accidentally cleared two departing planes to launch in the direct flight path of a third aircraft coming in for a landing.

Of all the things required to operate an airport safely and efficiency, a competent air traffic controller ranks right up there with a high concentration of Cinnabons inside each terminal. (After all, when you’re charging so much for checked luggage, it’s vital that irate passengers be satiated with melty frosting and cinnamon, lest an uprising take place.) But having someone to tell pilots when and where they can land planes is very important indeed. That’s why Reagan National Airport will install a second controller during overnight hours, after the first one apparently went missing from the post early Wednesday morning.