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US flight delays surge as unpaid air traffic controllers call in sick
A sharp rise in absences among air traffic controllers-many working without pay for over a month-has triggered widespread delays across major US airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned Friday.
Half of the country's 30 busiest airports now face staff shortages, with New York hit hardest: up to 80% of its controllers were absent ahead of the weekend, according to the agency.
Government shutdown strains aviation workforce
The FAA's alert comes as nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers endure a second month without paychecks due to the partial government shutdown. Like other essential federal workers-including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents-they are required to report to work despite the financial hardship.
"After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue," the FAA stated in a social media post, urging lawmakers to resolve the stalemate to "ensure workers receive the pay they've earned and travelers avoid further disruptions."
Safety measures slow flights nationwide
To mitigate risks, the FAA has reduced air traffic flow at affected hubs, a move it acknowledged would "result in delays or cancellations." Data from FlightAware showed the fallout Friday: roughly 6,000 US flights delayed and nearly 500 canceled.
"These are people that oftentimes live paycheck to paycheck. They're concerned about gas in the car. They're concerned about child care and mortgages."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in an interview with Fox News
Political gridlock prolongs crisis
The shutdown shows no signs of abating. A Republican-backed bill to fund the government has failed in the Senate over a dozen times, as Democrats tie reopening talks to broader demands: extending health insurance tax credits for millions and reversing President Donald Trump's cuts to Medicaid, which serves elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans.
With no resolution in sight, aviation unions and industry groups have warned of escalating disruptions-raising pressure on Congress to break the deadlock before the strain on controllers worsens.
