Ever had flight jitters at Mumbai or Changi? US air traffic controllers are right there with you—except they're doing their job without a paycheck 😬✈️
On Oct. 28, these controllers, crucial for safe skies, demanded an end to the US federal government shutdown after missing pay. A shutdown happens when Congress can't agree on a budget, stalling paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers ⏳
Though controllers keep working to guide takeoffs and landings 24/7, years of understaffing have left towers stretched thin. Now without pay, morale and safety margins are under fresh pressure, raising questions at busy hubs from New York to Los Angeles—and beyond 🌏
For globe-trotters and frequent flyers in South and Southeast Asia, it's a reminder: stable staffing isn't just a local issue. Whether booking flights through your favorite app or planning a jam-packed itinerary, we all rely on air traffic pros to keep us moving safely.
As Congress stays deadlocked, controllers say they're ready to chalk up more missed paydays—until lawmakers ground the shutdown for good. Fingers crossed they get a landing date for that solution soon! 🤞📢
Reference(s):
U.S. air traffic controllers go unpaid amid government shutdown
cgtn.com
