Air chaos hits Florida with hundreds of flights canceled due to the government shutdown in the U.S.

The closure of the federal government in the United States caused a chaotic situation this Sunday in the main airports of Florida, with hundreds of flights canceled and thousands of passengers stranded as authorities attempt to mitigate the impact of the crisis on national air travel.

According to data from , over 160 flights were canceled at airports in Florida on Sunday morning, primarily in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa, although there were also cancellations at smaller terminals.

Nationwide, the figures exceeded 1,100 canceled flights and over 500 delays before noon, according to the tracking site FlightAware.

The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, explained that the measure responds to the need to alleviate the pressure on air traffic controllers, who have not received a salary since October 1 and are working extended shifts of six days a week.

Duffy announced gradual reductions in the number of flights at 40 airports across the country, which increased from the initial 4% to 10%, and could reach 15% or 20% if the shutdown continues.

Airports in South Florida are among the most affected. According to Local 10 News, Miami International Airport (MIA) had accumulated 45 delayed flights and 24 cancellations by Sunday morning, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) reported 33 delays and 31 suspended flights.

The local news outlet gathered testimonies from passengers such as the Maynard family, who spent the night at the airport after their flight to Connecticut was canceled. “I’m tired, it’s time to go home,” said Debra Maynard after being stranded at MIA for more than 24 hours.

For its part, Telemundo 51 reported that nationwide cancellations were nearing 2,000, and delays exceeded 14,000 across the country on the 39th day of the federal government shutdown.

Aviation authorities have advised passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving home and to anticipate additional wait times at security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned that lines at the checkpoints may lengthen as the government shutdown continues.

As the political paralysis in Washington remains without an immediate solution, the impact on air travel is escalating, resulting in images of overcrowded airports, canceled flights, and exhausted travelers, reflecting the human consequences of a crisis that threatens to ripple throughout the entire transportation system of the country.