FAA Warns of 'Unprecedented Risks' as Air Traffic Controllers Call in Sick, Forcing Major Carriers to Halt Operations

November 6, 2025

WASHINGTON — A spiraling U.S. government shutdown entered its 12th day Thursday, unleashing havoc on the nation's air travel system as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued emergency directives grounding more than 4,000 flights across major hubs, citing acute safety concerns from understaffed air traffic control towers.

The unprecedented disruptions, affecting airlines from Delta to Southwest, stem directly from the shutdown's freeze on federal paychecks, which has prompted a wave of sickouts and resignations among the FAA's 14,000 air traffic controllers. "We're staring down the barrel of a catastrophe," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a tense midday briefing. "Fatigue, understaffing, and outdated systems aren't a recipe for delays—they're a formula for disaster. We've grounded flights to save lives."

The shutdown, triggered by partisan gridlock over a $6 trillion spending bill, has furloughed 800,000 federal workers and slashed non-essential services, but aviation safety remains fully funded by law—except when personnel shortages turn theoretical risks into immediate threats. Controllers, working mandatory overtime without hazard pay, reported error rates spiking 300% in the past week, including two near-misses at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that involved mid-air altitude deviations.

By midday, the FAA's NOTAM system—its Notices to Air Missions—had logged over 1,200 cancellations at JFK, LAX, and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson alone, stranding an estimated 500,000 passengers. Delta Air Lines, the hardest hit, slashed its schedule by 40%, while United and American issued travel waivers for affected routes. "This isn't inconvenience; it's endangerment," fumed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who joined stranded travelers at LaGuardia for a viral protest livestream. "Congress is playing Russian roulette with our skies while billionaires jet private."

The ripple effects are brutal: Perishable cargo flights for medical supplies and fresh produce were axed, exacerbating supply chain woes, and regional carriers serving rural America faced near-total blackouts. In a stark illustration, a Southwest flight from Denver to Phoenix was diverted mid-route after its controller logged off abruptly due to exhaustion, forcing pilots to circle for 45 minutes while seeking backup.

Industry leaders are apoplectic. Airlines for America, the trade group, blasted the impasse in a statement: "This shutdown isn't just fiscally irresponsible—it's criminally negligent." Economists peg daily losses at $1.2 billion, with tourism hotspots like Orlando's Disney World reporting 25% drops in bookings.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the administration's stance, insisting a deal is "imminent" but pinning blame on House Republicans for blocking a clean funding resolution. "Safety is paramount, and we're coordinating with airlines to minimize harm," she said. Yet behind closed doors, sources say President Biden has privately urged Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the House, warning of "irreparable damage" if the shutdown drags into next week.

As night fell, makeshift command centers buzzed at FAA facilities in Oklahoma City, where trainers—many themselves unpaid—scrambled to certify rookies. Veteran controller Lisa Torres, speaking anonymously from her Memphis tower, captured the exhaustion: "I've got bags under my eyes bigger than the Grand Canyon. One more shift like today, and God help us all."

Travelers, meanwhile, hunkered down in terminals turned tent cities, swapping stories of missed weddings and job interviews. "I get politics, but not at 30,000 feet," said weary commuter Raj Patel, nursing a lukewarm coffee at Dulles. Apps like FlightAware lit up with red alerts, a digital graveyard of dashed plans.

The FAA has extended its grounding order through Sunday, urging the public to "avoid non-essential travel." But with Thanksgiving looming, the question hangs heavy: Will Congress land a compromise before the skies do? For now, America's wings are clipped, a stark reminder that in Washington, shutdowns don't just close doors—they slam them on the world.