Government shutdown continues to add to stress on air traffic controllers and disrupt flights

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press The ongoing executive shutdown continues to disrupt flights at times and put pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay Flights were delayed Thursday at New York s LaGuardia Airport New Jersey s Newark airport and Washington s Reagan National Airport because of air traffic controller shortages The number of flight delays for any reason nationwide spiked to Thursday after hovering around a day earlier in the week according to FlightAware com Countless Federal Aviation Administration facilities are so critically short on controllers that just a scarce absences can cause disruptions and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has reported that more air traffic controllers have been calling in sick since the shutdown began Early on in the shutdown there were a number of disruptions at airports across the country but for the past couple of weeks there haven t been as a multitude of problems Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy left and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson R-La walk through Statuary Hall at the Capitol to a news conference on day of the ruling body shutdown in Washington Thursday Oct AP Photo J Scott Applewhite Duffy plans to hold a news conference later on Friday at the Philadelphia airport with the head of the air traffic controllers union Nick Daniels to highlight the added stress the shutdown is putting on controllers Already specific controllers have taken on second jobs to earn particular cash to help them pay their bills while the shutdown drags on Daniels noted in a message to union members Friday that controllers should be focused on keeping flights safe not worrying about how to pay their bills He explained it s not fair that controllers are facing impossible choices about whether to pay for rent or childcare or groceries The union and chosen airports have offered to help connect controllers with food banks or other assistance to help them get through the shutdown You are carrying the weight of the national airspace system and now doing it without a paycheck This is not acceptable and it is not sustainable No American worker should ever be put in this position Daniels revealed Related Articles Another US strike in Caribbean targets alleged drug-running boat killing Hegseth says Social Safeguard recipients get a cost-of-living boost in average of per month US inflation stays elevated but prices rose less than feared last month At present in History October the United Nations officially launches How cheaters rigged high-stakes poker games with the mob and sports pros according to officers Duffy has noted that air traffic controllers who abuse their sick time during the shutdown could be fired Republicans and Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement to end the shutdown that began on Oct The airlines and major unions across the industry have urged Congress to reach an agreement to end the shutdown Our aviation system has operated safely throughout the shutdown but it s putting an incredible and unnecessary strain on the system and on our air traffic controllers flight crews and various other aviation professionals announced Rep Sam Graves who is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee The Missouri Republican urged Democrats to promotion the GOP bill to fund the establishment