Flights to Los Angeles International Airport faced delays Sunday due to staffing issues at an air traffic control facility, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported. Similar staffing-related slowdowns impacted airports in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Newark, New Jersey.
These disruptions come as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently highlighted concerns that increased flight delays and cancellations are to be expected. According to Duffy, more air traffic controllers are calling in sick, adding strain to an already demanding profession.
The FAA issued a temporary ground stop for Los Angeles-bound flights, which lasted for about two hours. While Los Angeles appeared to recover quickly, other airports, like those in the Dallas area, experienced more significant delays attributed to weather and equipment problems.
The FAA also cited insufficient air traffic controllers per shift as a cause of disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, Teteboro Airport (New Jersey), and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida. Traffic flow was also slowed into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
