Shutdown could trigger mass flight delays as controllers go unpaid

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that the ongoing federal government shutdown could produce widespread flight delays, cancellations and even temporary closures of parts of the national airspace if air traffic controllers continue to miss paychecks, as the dispute entered its fifth week and the busy Thanksgiving travel period approaches. The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has left thousands of Federal Aviation Administration employees working without pay and prompted staffing shortfalls at many of the country’s busiest airports.

Duffy said at a press conference that if air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck next week, the system could face “mass chaos,” with large-scale delays and cancellations and possible restrictions on sections of airspace to protect safety. He added that the Transportation Department and the FAA will slow or stop air traffic when staffing shortages create safety risks. “We will restrict the airspace when we feel it is not safe,” he said.

The FAA has reported widespread impacts across the National Airspace System. In a recent statement the agency said half of its top 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and that...