air-traffic controller that brought the first sign of trouble. >> okay. that's after -- the two arrival -- maintain one seven -- >> reporter: the message was unintelligible. quickly charlie rohr, a 22 year veteran controller realized the pilot may be flying too high and suppering from a lack of oxygen. >> i think you might be experiencing some hypoxia. would you like to hoe lower altitude? >> reporter: soon his wife, who isn't a pilot, was on the radio. >> i can't talk much because i got to hold the oxygen to my face and the mic and the thing. i can't tell what's going on. >> reporter: the couple was flying a cirrus sr-22 from san bernardino, california, to colorado sprins. their trouble began over southern colorado. it was soon clear they'd have to land quickly, farmington, new mexico, was the closest airport. that's when controllers asked a