Flight delays reported across multiple U.S. airports as unpaid essential workers call in sick during government shutdown.

Understaffing at air traffic control towers has affected flights this week. But the The National Air Traffic Controllers Association president says worker shortages are nothing new.

As the ninth day of the government shutdown wears on, the focus is on how many air traffic controllers show up to work tonight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly plans to suspend approach control operations at the air traffic control tower in Nashville, Tennessee for five hours on Tuesday night, citing widespread staffing shortages.

The air traffic controller who caught the potential disaster is one of 30 certified professionals employed at Nashville airport's tower. Amid a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, that number has not kept pace with the airport's surging passenger traffic.

Due to the government shutdown, air traffic controllers are working without pay. The FAA is seeing a small uptick in air traffic control workers calling in sick during the shutdown.

Newark Airport faced 88-minute delays due to short-staffed air traffic control, impacted by the government shutdown and staffing issues at a remote tower. This has led to widespread flight delays across the U.

A pilot at Hollywood Burbank Airport was met with an automated response when he radioed the air traffic control tower. "The tower is closed due to staffing." Air traffic control towers around the country are short-staffed due to the ongoing government shutdown;

There were frustrating delays and cancellations on Monday evening at Burbank Airport as the government shutdown triggered a shortage of air traffic controllers.