Potential Airspace Closures Loom Amid Government Shutdown, Duffy Warns of “Mass Chaos”

Politics

Potential Airspace Closures Loom Amid Government Shutdown, Duffy Warns of “Mass Chaos”

1 month ago

News sources:

ABCNEWS

CBSNEWS

REUTERS

INDIATIMES

SCMP

Potential Airspace Closures Loom Amid Government Shutdown, Duffy Warns of “Mass Chaos”

Credited from: REUTERS

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns of potential airspace closures next week.
Mass flight delays and cancellations anticipated if the shutdown continues.
Long queues and staff shortages are increasing due to air traffic controller absences.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a dire warning that if the government shutdown persists into next week, he may be forced to close certain parts of the airspace. "You will see mass chaos... mass flight delays and cancellations," Duffy stated at a press conference in Philadelphia, emphasizing that the shortage of air traffic controllers is critically affecting air management, according to CBS News and Reuters.

Already facing significant disruptions, U.S. aviation has experienced tens of thousands of delays over the past month, impacting approximately 3.2 million passengers recently, with staffing shortages exacerbated by the ongoing shutdown entering its 35th day. Duffy warned that if air traffic controller absences do not improve, restrictions on airspace may be implemented as a safety measure, according to ABC News, India Times, and SCMP.