The Federal Aviation Administration said flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted Sunday morning due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility.
The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world's busiest airports soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed and canceled in the coming days as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.
During an appearance on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy mentioned that more controllers were calling in sick as financial worries intensified the stress of their demanding jobs.
“Just yesterday, ... we had 22 staffing triggers. That’s one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began. And that’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin,” he said.
The FAA stated that aircraft destined for Los Angeles were held at their originating airports starting at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time, causing delays averaging an hour and 40 minutes. The agency anticipated lifting the ground stop at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, but continued restrictions into LAX might remain in effect.
Additionally, staffing shortages triggered disruptions in arrivals and departures at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport, as well as at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.
