Reply #18: Re-reading the article that might be the case. He went home early figuratively speaking.

[pa28]

The poor guy was apparently alone, I'm guessing the pilots tried the ground frequency after checking the radios and got nothing. Center called by phone and got nothing.

We'll have to see the final breakdown but it looks like this guy was manning the whole ship by himself and just reached the limit.

I sure hope they look at the staffing angle here rather than just making scapegoat out of this controller. I'm sure he feels terrible about the episode and I really hope he does not lose his job in the name of understaffing. Air traffic control people are smart, dedicated professionals and anybody assigned to that particular airport would have earned elite status in the business.