Flights to Los Angeles International Airport were briefly halted due to a shortage of air traffic controllers at a Southern California facility. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing-related delays in several cities, including Chicago and Washington D.C. The FAA’s U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, warned that more flights would be delayed or canceled as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.
The hold on Los Angeles flights started at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time and was lifted at 1:30 p.m. The FAA attributed the delays to “too few” air traffic controllers per shift, causing disruptions at several airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport and Fort Meyers’ Southwest Florida International Airport.
While the delay did not significantly impact Los Angeles Airport operations, other airports saw more issues due to weather or equipment problems. The FAA has reported staffing shortages and delays across multiple airports, highlighting the challenges of operating the nation’s air traffic system during a federal shutdown.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/lax-airport-flights-delays-shutdown-b2e0c13f3241e415784c3118fc8f0c9d