Flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were temporarily halted on Sunday due to a shortage of air traffic controllers at a Southern California facility, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency also reported similar staffing-related delays in Chicago, Washington, and Newark, New Jersey.
The FAA implemented a temporary ground stop for flights headed to LAX beginning at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time. This measure was lifted at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. The stoppage did not result in ongoing disruptions at LAX; data from FlightAware indicated that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport experienced more significant late arrivals, which the FAA attributed to weather and equipment problems.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” He said more air traffic controllers are calling in sick as financial concerns increase stress during the ongoing federal government shutdown. “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,” Duffy said.
In addition to LAX, too few controllers led to takeoff and arrival disruptions on Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport and Teteboro Airport in New Jersey, as well as Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers.
