A third American airport experienced massive delays this weekend in the latest of a string of transport setbacks.
Planes at the airport in Austin, Texas were delayed for up to an hour and a half Sunday because of chronic understaffing at the FAA’s air traffic control tower, reported KUT News.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has little more than half of the air traffic controllers the government says it’s supposed to have.
As of January, only 32 of the required 60 positions were filled at Austin’s airport, staffing records showed.
This follows major problems Newark Airport, which has been hit with massive delays for two weeks.
The incidents are the latest in a long line of disasters that the Trump administration blames on ‘antiquated’ FAA systems.
However, the MAGA president ordered that hundreds of air traffic controller be fired in February.
Radar screens went dark at the New York City area hub early Friday during a close call that nearly became a midair disaster.
Incoming flights to Austin Bergstrom airport were delayed by up to an hour and a half Sunday
Separately, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International issued a ground stop on Mother’s Day due to equipment failure.
The nightmare delays in the Texas capitol delays lasted for about three hours Sunday until the understaffed controllers were able to get a handle on traffic.
Incoming flights were impacted by the staffing, the FAA confirmed to the Austin American Statesman.
Travelers were advised to check departure times.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
