WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration has reached a settlement with an air-traffic controller who said he was retaliated against for warning that a takeoff-and-landing procedure in Memphis, Tenn., had led to near midair collisions.

Spokeswoman Leslie Williamson of the investigating agency says the FAA agreed Dec. 4 to return Peter Nesbitt to air-traffic control duties and transfer him to Austin, Texas, at the same salary, and to pay his relocation and legal expenses. Williamson is with the Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that investigates whistle-blower complaints.

Nesbitt, who has more than 20 years' experience as a controller, had asked to return to the control tower at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where he worked before joinign the staff at the Memphis International Airport control tower.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown confirmed that an agreement had been reached but declined to comment further.