Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers are “burning out” amid the current government shutdown. and they are already looking for a second job, which will make the situation worse.
Duffy described that the closure of the federal government already had a major impact on air traffic this Sunday, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) where operations were paralyzed for several hours.
In an interview with the Fox network, Duffy said he has seen the stress on the air traffic controllers with whom he has conversations due to the fact that they probably will not receive their salary next Tuesday if the government shutdown continues.
“Just yesterday… we had 22 staff alerts. It’s one of the highest levels we’ve seen in the system since the shutdown began.”“explained the secretary.
“That is a sign that the drivers are exhausted,” he added.
The Transport Secretary added that air passengers should expect further delays this week. Last Thursday, Duffy stated at a press conference that he could not guarantee that flights would not be delayed or cancelled.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary stoppage order this Sunday morning at LAX, one of the busiest airports in the world.which caused multiple flight delays and frustration among passengers.
According to flight tracking website FlightAware, nearly 2,000 flights within, to or from the U.S. have been delayed through Sunday, and more than 130 have been canceled. The Hill has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration for information on the percentage of flights delayed or canceled due to staffing shortages.
The US government shutdown reached 26 days, making it the second longest in history.
A group of Democratic congressmen, including Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, warned that the longer Republicans delay in seeking a coordinated solution to the closure, the more air safety will be put at risk.
Lawmakers warned that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the likelihood of disruptions, such as those that occurred in January 2019, which represented a turning point in the longest government shutdown the United States has ever recorded, at 35 days, and forced the closure of LaGuardia Airport in New York.
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