Name: Passengers wait hours as air traffic control faces staffing issues
Uploaded: 2025-11-11T16:00:16.702Z
Duration: 2 min 35 s
Description: With the Thanksgiving travel rush less than two weeks away, airlines are ramping up flight cancellations ordered by the FAA until the government shutdown ends. Airlines say since the shutdown began, air traffic control staffing issues have disrupted the trips of 5.2 million people as sick calls increase and controllers miss their second paycheck.

With the Thanksgiving travel rush less than two weeks away, airlines are ramping up flight cancellations ordered by the FAA until the government shutdown ends. Airlines say since the shutdown began, air traffic control staffing issues have disrupted the trips of 5.2 million people as sick calls increase and controllers miss their second paycheck.

Newark Liberty International Airport

Air traffic control staffing shortages at multiple FAA facilities have resulted in significant delays and cancellations at major US airports, including Newark Liberty International. Airlines report that 5.2 million travelers have been affected since the onset of the government shutdown, with passengers and pilots expressing frustration over long wait times and uncertainty. 

The FAA has ordered a 10% reduction in flights at 40 high-volume airports by Friday, and airlines plan further cuts to meet this target. President Trump praised air traffic controllers working without pay and called for bonuses, while a separate incident at Washington Dulles Airport saw 18 people injured when a people mover vehicle crashed into the terminal.

Passengers wait hours as air traffic control faces staffing issues

Chris Van Cleve is at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport with the latest. Chris, good morning. The word is, if you don't have to get on a plane, please don't, but a lot of people have places to go. Good morning. Millions of people are still flying. Last night, we counted at least 18 FAA facilities reporting staffing shortfalls, so the staffing woes continue. Cancellations and delays remain high, but they were better than Sunday, the worst travel day of this shutdown for flyers. That really means uncertainty, and for the airlines trying to plan around these staffing issues, it's like trying to prepare for a winter storm, except you don't know when or where it might hit. It's going to take us at least 90 minutes to take off. From pilots... People are so angry, which I understand. It's very frustrating. ...to passengers. Everyone is feeling the flying frustration of the government shutdown. At Newark Liberty Airport, planes lined up and waited hours to take off this weekend. Airlines say since the shutdown began, air traffic control staffing issues have disrupted the trips of 5.2 million people. My flight has been severely delayed. In a truth social post Monday, President Trump praised air traffic controllers who have been working without pay as great patriots, calling for a $10,000 bonus while threatening to dock the pay of those who miss work. I want to reward the people that showed up without a lot of nonsense, without a lot of talk. They did their job. Today, controllers will miss their second full paycheck. Joe Segreto hopes he doesn't miss a third. It's tough when your children are asking you questions about, Dad, can we go on vacation, or can we do this, or can we do dance, or can we do basketball, and you don't have those extra funds. It's terrible. With the Thanksgiving travel rush less than two weeks out, airlines are ramping up flight cancellations at 40 high-volume airports. The FAA ordered a 10% cut by Friday. American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour. We know people are traveling for a reason. We are doing our best to get them ultimately to their destination. And the airlines will cut more flights Thursday and then again Friday to hit that 10% number. Take a look at this video. Amid all of this chaos at Washington Dulles Airport, one of the giant people movers slammed into the terminal. It injured 18 people. They were sent to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Tony? Glad they're okay, Chris. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

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