Controller shortages snarl flights as shutdown deepens

Flight delays persisted across U.S. airports Sunday as the government shutdown entered a second month and air traffic controller shortages strained operations. Newark faced two- to three-hour holdups that could ripple across the New York region, officials warned, urging travelers to expect schedule changes and longer waits. FlightAware reported 4,295 delays and 557 cancellations by evening, while major hubs from Houston and Dallas to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver and Miami logged disruptions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said safety-driven slowdowns and cancellations will keep the system safe as nearly 13,000 controllers work unpaid amid a longstanding staffing shortfall.