Major Airspace Closures Could Soon Disrupt U.S. Flights — Here’s Why

As the U.S. government shutdown enters its 35th day, there's a major possibility that the U.S. will shut down major airspace due to staffing shortages.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the stunning announcement on Tuesday, saying that air traffic controllers not showing up for work amid the shutdown may lead to a domino effect, in which the department needing to shut down airspace will cause even more delays at airports across the country.

It's reported that the shortage is as high as 3,000 controllers, who are not getting paid if they still show up for work.

Duffy's Eerie Warning

During a news briefing on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Duffy warned that "mass chaos," "mass flight delays," and "mass cancellations" will unfold if the government shutdown is still in effect a week from today.

"You may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don't have the air traffic controllers," he said, via NBC News.

He added, "We will restrict the airspace when we feel it's not safe."

Related: The Worst U.S. Airports For Projected Holiday Flight Delays and Cancellations Ranked

Working Without Pay

Amid the longest government shutdown on record, air traffic controllers and TSA employees have been working without pay. But many of them are also calling in sick, prompting long security wait lines at airports across the country, along with numerous flight delays.

Many have resorted to working for Uber or delivering on DoorDash to make ends meet, though Duffy has implored these essential workers not to take side gigs and focus on the critical task at hand until the government reopens.

Related: American Airlines Just Earned a Dubious Distinction for Canceled Flights This Year

Last week, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels underscored the severity of his members not receiving paychecks.

"Air traffic controllers have to have 100 percent of focus 100 percent of the time," he said. "And I'm watching air traffic controllers going to work. I'm getting the stories. They're worried about paying for medicine for their daughter. I got a message from a controller that said, 'I'm running out of money. And if she doesn't get the medicine she needs, she dies. That's the end'."

And as the shutdown drags, Daniels says resignations are coming in droves, he told NewsNation.

"We have only 10,800 certified controllers," Daniels said, "where there should be 14,633."