Head of NASA Threatens to Ground Every Single Commercial Flight Before Thanksgiving

""If we thought that it was unsafe, we'll shut the whole airspace down," he said, adding that the shutdown does "include an element of risk." "We won't let people travel," he said. "We're not there at this point. It's just significant delays.""

""After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue," the FAA wrote in a social media post on Friday. "Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of air traffic controllers are absent at New York-area facilities." "As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety," the statement reads."

Transportation secretary Sean Duffy, also serving as NASA interim administrator, warned he could ground all commercial flights if the government shutdown compromises safety ahead of Thanksgiving. The shutdown began October 1 and has left many air traffic controllers without pay, forcing some to take second jobs and causing major delays and cancellations. The FAA pleaded with lawmakers to end the shutdown and reported severe staffing shortages: half of Core 30 facilities affected and nearly 80 percent absences at New York-area facilities. The FAA emphasized that safety will not be compromised amid ongoing operational strain.

Read at Futurism