Flights grounded at Newark Airport due to 'staffing issues' amid government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at New Jersey's largest airport, Newark Liberty International, on Wednesday afternoon due to "staffing issues" related to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Flights were halted at 3 p.m., with the FAA stating that the halt would last until 4:15 p.m. The agency said passengers could expect a significant delay.
According to NBC4, flights at the major East Coast hub were grounded due to concerns over staffing levels. An image posted on social media showed planes sitting idle at the airport as staff struggled to cope with the disruption.
The ground stop was lifted shortly after, but an FAA advisory now advises for a "ground delay" through 11 p.m., indicating that flights are expected to be delayed by approximately 40 minutes.
Passengers can expect significant delays due to the staffing shortages. The agency did not immediately respond to The Post's inquiry regarding comment.
The situation highlights the severe impact of the ongoing government shutdown on critical infrastructure, including airports and air traffic control services.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at New Jersey's largest airport, Newark Liberty International, on Wednesday afternoon due to "staffing issues" related to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Flights were halted at 3 p.m., with the FAA stating that the halt would last until 4:15 p.m. The agency said passengers could expect a significant delay.
According to NBC4, flights at the major East Coast hub were grounded due to concerns over staffing levels. An image posted on social media showed planes sitting idle at the airport as staff struggled to cope with the disruption.
The ground stop was lifted shortly after, but an FAA advisory now advises for a "ground delay" through 11 p.m., indicating that flights are expected to be delayed by approximately 40 minutes.
Passengers can expect significant delays due to the staffing shortages. The agency did not immediately respond to The Post's inquiry regarding comment.
The situation highlights the severe impact of the ongoing government shutdown on critical infrastructure, including airports and air traffic control services.
This is getting crazy! I mean, I've heard of staffing issues before, but never like this. Airports are such a big deal for international travel and trade, and now we're seeing planes just sitting there because nobody's showing up to work 
. It's not just about the passengers, it's also about the economic impact on the country and the world - I mean, what happens when flights get delayed or canceled? It's like a ripple effect everywhere! 
And here we are, in 2025, still dealing with this kind of stuff... shouldn't our governments be better equipped to handle these kinds of situations? 
Grounding flights at Newark Airport because of "staffing issues" is just a fancy way of saying our government can't even get its own house in order. I mean, who needs air traffic control when you've got, apparently, staff shortages? 
And now passengers are stuck waiting around for hours, all because the powers that be couldn't be bothered to sort out their own problems.
At least the FAA advisory says 40 minutes of delay is a significant one, right? I mean, who doesn't love waiting an extra 40 minutes for their flight? 
they grounded all flights cuz staff cant even get it together lol its like they forgot how to do their job or wut 
. I was actually supposed to fly out last nite but i had 2 reschedule cuz of this.. now im stuck here in NYC till tomorrow and im soooo not happy about it 
. anywayz, 40 min delay? thats not even a big deal, rite? 
. You know what's wild? Air travel is like the original 'just in case' scenario... always assume something goes wrong, right? Anyway, I wonder if they've considered having some sort of backup plan for airports like this? Like, have staff on standby or something? Just thinking about it and my mind is already racing with worst-case scenarios 
. It's just another example of how the government shutdown is messing with our daily lives, you know? 
. I just hope the airlines are compensating passengers or something. This is just a huge inconvenience for travelers and not exactly what you want to deal with during the holidays 
.
what a nightmare for passengers 
hope they sort it out soon 
. Can't the government just sort out their stuff already?! It's not like they're not getting paid... they're getting PAID TO BE THERE AND DO THEIR JOB!!! 
. And 40 minutes might not seem like a lot, but it adds up when you’re trying to get to work or school on time... it’s just frustrating for everyone involved 
I mean, can't our government see how it affects people's lives like this? I've booked flights through Newark for months now and now I'm stuck waiting till 11 pm because of a few staff shortages 
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. 40 minutes delay? Who cares, just order another latte and binge-watch Netflix while you wait 
. I mean, seriously though, shouldn't air traffic control be a non-negotiable essential service? 
Guess the FAA will just wing it... no pun intended 
.
. It just goes to show how much of an impact this shutdown is having on everyday life, you know? Like, what's the point of having airports and air traffic control if they're just gonna get shut down because of politics 
.