The Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) faced a serious operational challenge on Monday evening when its air traffic control tower was left completely unmanned due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The disruption led to widespread flight delays and renewed scrutiny of how the shutdown is straining the nation’s aviation system.
Unstaffed Tower Forces Remote Management
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Burbank control tower was unmanned between 4:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., forcing controllers from Southern California TRACON — a regional radar facility in San Diego — to handle all takeoffs and landings remotely.
This emergency arrangement allowed limited operations to continue, but with significant flight restrictions. Pilots were required to coordinate through TRACON instead of on-site controllers, slowing traffic and increasing wait times.
Delays and Passenger Frustration
The lack of staffing caused cascading delays throughout the evening. According to FlightAware, average delays reached over two hours, with some flights waiting nearly four hours for clearance.
Passengers at Burbank Airport described long lines, confusion, and poor communication. “We didn’t know if our flight would take off at all,” one traveler told local media. “The staff kept saying there were no controllers in the tower — it was surreal.”
The FAA confirmed that the delays were part of a larger effort to reduce air traffic density for safety reasons. Across the U.S., similar staffing shortages have hit several regional airports, leading to an estimated 1,200 delays nationwide on Monday alone.
Why the Shutdown Is Grounding Flights
The ongoing federal government shutdown has forced thousands of FAA employees — including administrative and technical staff — to work without pay or face temporary furloughs. While air traffic controllers are considered essential workers, many have begun calling in sick or taking leave, creating critical gaps in coverage.
Union representatives warn that morale is collapsing as paychecks stop and workloads rise. “Controllers are exhausted and frustrated,” said National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) spokesperson Paul Rinaldi. “They’re being asked to maintain the same level of safety under extreme stress — it’s unsustainable.”
Political Fallout: Newsom vs. Trump
The incident sparked sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who directly blamed President Donald Trump for the staffing crisis.
“Burbank Airport had ZERO air traffic controllers for nearly six hours because of YOUR government shutdown,” Newsom wrote on social media. “This is reckless and dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the strain on the FAA, noting that while the agency is doing everything possible to maintain safety, “the system was never designed to operate under this kind of financial uncertainty.”
What Happens Next
Industry experts warn that if the shutdown continues, more regional airports — including John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Palm Springs International (PSP) — could experience similar partial shutdowns.
Airlines have begun adjusting schedules preemptively, while the FAA is prioritizing high-traffic airports like LAX and San Francisco International to maintain national airspace stability.
The Hollywood Burbank Airport incident serves as a stark reminder of how deeply the government shutdown has affected not just politics, but the daily safety and reliability of U.S. air travel.
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