Flight disruptions across the U.S. intensified on Tuesday evening as multiple major airports reported severe delays directly tied to air traffic controller staffing shortages, which were exacerbated by the ongoing federal funding lapse.
At Nashville International Airport, average arrival delays reached 126 minutes by 5:30 p.m. ET, with the cause attributed to controller “staffing” constraints. Simultaneously, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Newark, and Teterboro airports all cited similar staffing pressures, either actively impacting operations or expected to do so imminently.
This pattern marks a continuation of Monday’s isolated delays—most notably near Los Angeles at Hollywood Burbank Airport—though Tuesday’s disruptions are broader and earlier in the evening, raising concerns of mounting congestion if the crisis deepens.
