Flights to LAX Temporarily Halted Amid Air Traffic Staff Shortage

Flights bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were temporarily halted on Sunday due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic control facility, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed. The agency also reported similar staffing-related delays in Chicago, Washington, and Newark, New Jersey.

The FAA issued a ground stop at LAX—one of the world’s busiest airports—starting at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time, before lifting it at 1:30 p.m. The brief suspension came shortly after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travelers should expect more widespread flight disruptions as air traffic controllers continue working without pay during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy said increasing numbers of controllers were calling in sick as financial stress compounds the pressures of their demanding work. “Just yesterday, we had 22 staffing triggers—one of the highest levels we’ve seen since the shutdown began. That’s a sign controllers are wearing thin,” he said.

Despite the temporary hold, operations at LAX quickly stabilized. According to FlightAware, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field experienced more significant delays, which the FAA attributed to weather and equipment issues.

Staffing shortages also caused takeoff and arrival disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, nearby Teterboro Airport, and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Later in the evening, the FAA slowed air traffic into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport due to limited controller availability.

The agency has warned that continued shortages could lead to more widespread delays and cancellations if the shutdown persists.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com, yahoo.com