Hey fam, ever had your flight grounded by political drama? 🤯 With the US shutdown in week two, air travel is taking the hit: air traffic controllers are clocking out as “sick days,” leaving thousands of flights stuck on the tarmac.
In normal times, these controllers are the unsung heroes guiding planes safely from takeoff to touchdown. But during the shutdown, a surge of “sick calls” means fewer controllers at work. The result? Around 10,000 delays reported earlier this week, jetting anxiety levels through the roof for fliers.
One LA-area airport made global headlines when it had zero controllers on duty for nearly six hours—yikes! 😬 While no accidents have happened yet, the longer delays are a red flag that the system’s trustworthiness is wobbling.
At the heart of this chaos is a gridlock on Capitol Hill: Democrats and Republicans aren’t budging, and everyday Americans are left waiting at the gate. It’s a prime example of how bitter political polarization can spiral and impact our daily lives—especially if you’re hoping to catch a plane for that dream vacay in Bali or a business meeting in Singapore.
If you’ve got trips lined up, you’ll want to stay extra nimble. Keep tabs on your flight with real-time trackers like FlightRadar24 or Google Flights, and maybe download an airline app for instant alerts. In the meantime, let’s hope our leaders find common ground—because no one wants politics to take us all off course! ✈️💼
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
