Please forward this message to the ATC controller and his supervisor that have been placed on suspension.
I would like you to know that I feel horrible for what is happening to you guys and your families over what the media calls an "incident" on February 17th. Sirs, it is apparent by listening to the ATC transmissions aired on TV this morning, that the youngster in question was obviously under direct supervision. The pilots seemed to appreciate having an interested youngster on the other end of their radio that morning as well. I am not a pilot nor a controller, but I have about 15 years of experience in downed aircraft SAR and I know enough about the aviation industry to know the difference between safe and not-safe operations. To the youngster in the middle of all of this: keep your chin-up kiddo, don't let what you see on TV dictate what you want to do in life! I think it is absolutely awesome that you showed the interest as well as the attention to detail to forward traffic to those pilots and you did it well! To the young man's parent: I think you are getting short-changed my friend and it's a shame. Be proud of your kid and don't let the media get to you. The folks that are the most upset about this are the folks that have the least understanding of what it is you do every day. Unfortunately, as usual, the powers that be, the FAA and JFK ATC are playing the CYA game, pandering to the masses of folks that have no clue what they are talking about.
ATC Controller on Suspension