00:00Imagine planes taking off and landing without air traffic controllers in the control tower.
00:06That's what happened at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California after a staff shortage left the tower unmanned for hours during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
00:15The shutdown has forced air traffic controllers to work without pay, and officials say there's been an uptick in sick calls as frustration and fatigue grow.
00:25The result? Multiple flight delays and cancellations.
00:28As of Monday evening, outgoing flights were delayed by more than two hours on average.
00:34Even though the tower is empty, air traffic is still being managed safely by Southern California Track-On, an FAA radar center in San Diego that oversees dozens of airports across the region.
00:46Still, Burbank continues to face widespread disruptions, and officials warn that delays could persist.
Be the first to comment