Chaos in the Skies: Airport Left Without Air Traffic Controllers for Hours

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reporting mounting staffing shortages at several U.S. airports as the ongoing government shutdown continues to strain critical operations.

The most severe disruption occurred Monday at Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area, where no air traffic controllers were scheduled to staff the control tower for nearly six hours, according to NBC News. During that period, air traffic responsibilities were shifted to the San Diego TRACON facility, which managed flights at a significantly reduced capacity, resulting in widespread delays for both arrivals and departures.

The FAA said the shortages extended beyond Burbank, with Newark Liberty International and Denver International airports also reporting control tower staffing issues. Additional impacts were noted in Phoenix, Jacksonville, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Indianapolis, according to FAA online updates and CNN reports.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged a “slight uptick” in sick calls among controllers since the shutdown began and federal pay was suspended. Still, he emphasized that flight safety remains the top priority. “If we see additional sick calls, we’ll reduce air traffic flow to ensure operations remain safe for the American people,” Duffy stated.

Air traffic controllers are designated as essential federal employees, meaning they must continue working during shutdowns without pay until government funding is restored. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association warned that the situation highlights an already fragile system, noting that the U.S. was facing a controller shortage even before the shutdown.

“This is the latest example of how vulnerable our aviation infrastructure has become due to years of understaffing and underinvestment,” the union said in a statement.

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