Travelers flying in and out of New Jersey on Sunday morning faced major disruptions when Newark Airport temporarily stopped all flights due to ongoing staffing shortages.
The sudden pause added to a growing list of air travel woes spreading across the United States as the effects of the government shutdown continue to ripple through airports.
Early Morning Ground Stop Shakes Travelers
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport between 7 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., blaming “staffing issues” for the delay.
The New Jersey hub—ranked among the top ten busiest airports in the country—handles hundreds of flights daily for nearly 50 different airlines.
Many passengers were left frustrated and confused as early-morning flights were held on the tarmac or delayed at the gate.
Some travelers reported being informed of the stoppage only minutes before boarding.
Nationwide Air Traffic Struggles Grow Worse
Newark’s situation is part of a much larger problem sweeping the U.S. aviation system.
Since the federal government shutdown began on October 1, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been forced to work without pay, putting an immense strain on airport operations nationwide.
The FAA has already warned that if staffing shortages persist, ground delay programs—traffic flow control measures—may have to be implemented more frequently, potentially leading to even more flight disruptions in the coming days.
A Week of Mounting Delays and Frustrations
This isn’t the first time Newark has been hit by such chaos.
Just days earlier, on October 29, the airport faced nearly 90 minutes of delays for the same reason.
And on Halloween, a combination of severe weather and staffing shortages left thousands of flights delayed across multiple airports.
By Friday afternoon, FlightAware data showed that 3,437 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. had been delayed, with another 331 canceled.
The day before, those numbers were even worse—over 7,200 delays and more than 1,200 cancellations.
Other Airports Feeling the Pressure
The strain is not limited to Newark. Airports in Orlando, Austin, and Nashville have all issued ground delays in recent days due to a lack of available air traffic controllers.
In one particularly disruptive moment, Orlando International Airport was temporarily shut down late Friday when the FAA announced that there were “no certified controllers available for a period of time.”
The move left thousands of passengers stranded—an especially painful blow for families traveling to and from Disney World and Universal Studios.
What Happens Next for Travelers
With no immediate end to the government shutdown in sight, aviation experts warn that these disruptions could continue well into the coming weeks.
If staffing issues remain unresolved, passengers may face further cancellations, rerouted flights, and long waits both in the air and on the ground.
For now, Newark’s operations have resumed, but the incident has reignited concerns about the country’s strained air traffic control system and the toll it’s taking on both travelers and workers.