Two aircraft were forced to circle over Lesvos for half an hour yesterday morning after the air-traffic controller who was supposed to be on duty at the island’s airport overslept.

Transport Minister Costis Hatzidakis said he had ordered an investigation into the incident, which affected a domestic flight from Athens and a charter flight from Slovakia, and said that those responsible would be punished.

The two flights, which had been due to land at 6.30 a.m., eventually landed at 7.10 a.m. after one of the controller’s colleagues was called in to bring in the aircraft.

The air-traffic controller is alleged to have told his supervisor that his mobile phone alarm was not working and had failed to wake him up in time for his usual 5.30 a.m. start.