FAA halts flights at embattled Newark Airport over shutdown ‘staffing issues’

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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.
 
🚫 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.

It's like they say: "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But what if life just keeps giving you flights grounded due to staffing shortages? 🍋 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? 😴
 
OMG u wont believe wat just happend at Newark Airport 🚫😱 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 🤯. its kinda sad wen u think bout the people who are affected by dis btw 👎. anywayz, 40 min delay? thats not even a big deal, rite? 😒
 
I was just thinking about how I need to book a flight back from Europe soon and now this? 🤦‍♂️ Can't even get that part right with all these govt shutdowns 🙄. 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 🤯. Ugh, now I'm just worried about my flight being delayed... 😬
 
Aww man... I was so looking forward to flying outta Newark this weekend 🤦‍♂️. Can't believe they're grounding flights due to staffing issues 😩. It's just another example of how the government shutdown is messing with our daily lives, you know? 🙄. I mean, airports are like the backbone of the country - without them, we'd be stuck in traffic on I-95 forever! 🚗😂. And now they're telling us to expect delays for hours? No thanks! 😒 Just another thing to add to my "back in my day" list... like when you could get a decent bagel at 7am without waiting an hour 🥐👀
 
Ugh 🤯, can you believe this? Flights grounded at Newark Airport due to "staffing issues" - it's like they didn't even prepare for a government shutdown! 😒 I mean, come on FAA, how do you expect to manage air traffic with so many staff out? It's chaos over there 👀. And now we're stuck waiting for hours because of it 🕰️. 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 ⚠️.
 
I'm so done with this gov shutdown already! 🤯 Like, can't they just sort out their stuff? Flights grounded at Newark Airport because of "staffing issues" is not what I call a good use of tax payer dollars... 40 minutes delay = still gonna be a nightmare for people trying to get home from work or to loved ones. Can we just get back to normal already?! 😩 And what's with the lack of communication? FAA can't even give a straight answer, huh? 🙄
 
OMG, THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL!!! 🤯 I mean, how can you have staffing issues at an airport during a government shutdown?! It's like they're not even taking it seriously! And now we're stuck with delayed flights and whatnot? 😒 40 minutes is NOT FUNNY when you've got a layover to make or a connection to catch. I feel bad for the airline staff trying to cope with this, though 🤗. 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!!! 💸👍
 
Ugh, grounding flights at Newark Airport is literally the worst news for travelers! I mean, 40 minutes delay is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you're already stressed about the whole government shutdown thing 🤯. And can't the FAA just, like, get their staffing issues sorted out or something? It's not rocket science, right? 😩

I'm all for making sure everyone's safe, but come on! A little planning and prep wouldn't kill anyone. I feel so bad for the passengers who have to deal with this inconvenience. And what about the airline staff working hard to keep everything running smoothly? They deserve a big thumbs up from me 👍.

Maybe it's time for the government to get their act together and find a solution to these staffing issues ASAP? We need our air travel routes restored pronto! ⏱️💨
 
Staffing issues at airports like Newark Liberty International got me thinking... what does it say about our society when we're so reliant on people being able to show up for work? I mean, isn't that just a basic human expectation? And yet, here we are, struggling with staffing shortages and flight delays. It's almost as if we've forgotten how to plan ahead or manage our resources properly. 🤔💼
 
🤦‍♂️ I mean come on, a ground stop at Newark Airport? That's crazy! Like, what's going on over there? Can't get enough staff to handle the flights? This is exactly why we need some sort of plan in place for situations like this... I'm all for keeping our airports running smoothly, but staffing issues are just ridiculous. And now passengers have to deal with these significant delays... it's just not right 😒.
 
I don’t usually comment but... it’s crazy that a govt shutdown would affect an airport this big 🤯 I mean, you’d think they could find a way to get their staff sorted out quickly, especially when there are so many people flying in and out every day. It just seems like common sense that they should be able to handle the staffing issues, but I guess you never know what goes on behind the scenes 🤷‍♀️. 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 😒
 
🚫🛬😬 So like, have you seen those charts on staffing levels in the airline industry? They're off the charts! 40 minutes delay for a ground delay, that's crazy talk! The FAA is literally having to put a hold on flights due to 'staffing issues' 🤦‍♂️. And it's not just Newark Airport, this is happening all over the country...

I did some digging, and apparently, the number of air traffic controllers has dropped by 25% since 2015. That's like a whole lotta pilots and flight attendants struggling to keep up! 📊

And let's talk about the economy. Those delayed flights are gonna cost airlines and passengers billions... 💸 The government shutdown is having a ripple effect on EVERYTHING, from air travel to consumer spending.

We need to start prioritizing our infrastructure, folks! 💪
 
I'm seeing this happening everywhere now 🤦‍♂️. Stuffing issues at airports? It's just a sign that we need to talk about funding for these critical services before the shutdown gets outta hand! 🚨 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 😩. Come on, FAA! Get those planes moving again ASAP ⛅️
 
Air travel in the US - because who needs jobs for people with families to feed? 😒 Flights grounded at Newark Airport due to 'staffing issues' sounds like a nice way of saying "we can't be bothered to show up to work" 🤷‍♂️. 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 😎.
 
Man, this is crazy 🤯! A government shutdown causing flights to get grounded at Newark Airport? That's like, super inconvenient for people trying to travel 🚫. I get that staffing issues can be a problem, but it's not like the airport's gonna shut down completely or anything... yet 😅. 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 🤔. Anyway, I hope everything gets sorted out soon and flights can resume... but for now, it's gonna be a long night for travelers 😴.
 
ummmm... gotta wonder how 'staffing issues' is gonna affect flights at one airport specifically? Newark Airport has multiple terminals and runways, it's not like they're a tiny airport with only 1 or 2 gates 🤔. And what about the other airports in the US that aren't affected by this government shutdown? Shouldn't those airlines have more flights scheduled to make up for the lost time? Also, how reliable are these staffing issues reports? didn't see any sources from the FAA or NBC4 supporting these claims 📰💻.
 
Man, this is getting crazy 🚨! I mean, can you believe that flights got grounded at Newark Airport because of staffing issues? Like, what even is going on? 🤔 The FAA's gotta issue a ground stop just because there aren't enough people to manage the airport? It's like they're playing a game of air traffic control roulette 🎲.

And it's not just the flights that are affected, it's also the passengers who have to deal with the delay. I mean, can you imagine being stuck at the airport for hours on end, waiting for your flight to take off? It's just not cool 😬. And what really gets me is that this happened during a government shutdown, where the people supposed to be handling these kinds of situations are, like, on strike or something 🤷‍♂️.

I think this situation highlights how critical infrastructure like airports and air traffic control services can be severely impacted by these kinds of shutdowns. It's not just about politics, it's about public safety and the well-being of people who rely on these services to get where they need to go 🚀.
 
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