{"id":4879,"date":"2025-10-08T09:41:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T09:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/?p=4879"},"modified":"2025-10-13T18:41:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T18:41:08","slug":"us-govt-shutdown-triggers-air-traffic-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/08\/us-govt-shutdown-triggers-air-traffic-chaos\/","title":{"rendered":"US govt shutdown triggers air traffic chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"
Over 9,000 flights were canceled or delayed and several major airports were temporarily closed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Over 9,000 flights were delayed or canceled across the US on Monday and Tuesday, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. The disruptions were triggered by a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown. <\/p>\n The shutdown began on October 1 after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a spending bill. While most federal workers are furloughed, air traffic controllers are deemed essential and must work without pay during the shutdown, although back pay is guaranteed. <\/p>\n However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed a higher rate of controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began. <\/p>\n The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union, which represents 20,000 air traffic controllers, said it is working with the FAA to mitigate disruptions in the National Airspace System. <\/p>\n “It is normal for a few air traffic controllers to call in sick on any given day, and this is the latest example of how fragile our aviation system is in the midst of a national shortage of these critical safety professionals,”<\/em> NATCA said in statement on Monday. <\/p>\n