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brought Christiaan a deep sense of relief and closure:
"I just wanted to know that he was okay."
This was not the first time Christiaan had encountered
such a harrowing scenario. A similar event years prior
— where a fellow Miami controller perished after an
emergency landing — remained etched in his memory
and served as a guiding force throughout this situation.
"It would have broken my heart if something like that
happened again," Christiaan said.
When asked what advice Christiaan would give to
other controllers facing similar emergencies, his
message was simple and powerful: "You are the voice
of calm. That may be exactly what the pilot needs.
Ask your fellow controllers for help — you're not in
it alone. Stay calm and focused on delivering the safest
outcome possible."
Christiaan's story is a testament to the professionalism,
teamwork, and dedication that define the air traffic
control community. His actions not only saved a life,
They set the standard for how calm leadership can
turn potential tragedy into a story of survival.
Congratulations to the 2025 Southern
Region Archie League Medal of Safety
Award Winner, Christiaan Cambridge!
SOUTHER N R EGION SOUTHER N R EGION
