"We're preparing for what we call level three flood operations, which is the major flood event, " a regional State Emergency Service operations controller, Darren Winkler, told ABC.

BBC: Queensland floods: Recovery will be 'hell of a job'

Last month's emergency occurred about three hours into controller Harten's eight-hour shift, but only 15 minutes after he was assigned to handle departures from New York's LaGuardia Airport.

CNN: Controller thought Hudson landing would be 'death sentence'

The flight controller immediately begins rerouting other planes in preparation for an emergency landing.

CNN: FAA releases ValuJet air traffic control tapes