Air traffic controllers warn of 'tipping point'
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Five weeks into the government shutdown, controllers across the country, forced to work without pay, are taking second jobs to stay afloat.
With the FAA cutting 10% of flights starting Friday, air traffic controllers are currently unpaid in some of the most stressful jobs in the country.
The Department of Transportation may close some parts of the airspace if enough air traffic controllers don’t show up to work, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday.
The staffing shortages have led to widespread flight disruptions, including ground stops, at major airports such as Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), and Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Flight delays can average an hour or more at some facilities.
Air traffic controllers are calling in sick and resigning during the government shutdown, causing flight delays and cancellations at Phoenix Sky Harbor.