Abstract: In order to improve capability of emergency response of air traffic controllers, and to ensure safety operation of aircrafts in various emergencies, a "controller′s onion model" is established based on an "onion model", introducing two indices: personality and awareness of controllers, and in combination with their characteristics at work.In accordance with the process of emergency response, a set of indices for evaluating controller′s emergency response capability is proposed, which includes 4 first-class indices (knowledge, skill, awareness, and personality of controllers) and 16 second-class indices.The weight of each index is computed by adopting the method of analytic hierarchy process (AHP).By using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, the emergency response capability of controllers at one air traffic control unit is evaluated as a case study.The score of this unit is 3.689, which in medium level.The quantitative method proposed in this study can be applied for an accurate evaluation of emergency response capability of air traffic controllers.