Nashville International Airport’s air traffic control tower is set to close Tuesday night due to staff shortages linked to government shutdowns. This marks the second control tower to shut down this week as a nationwide crisis disrupts thousands of flights.
The tower will remain dark from 7 PM to midnight, as reported by CNN.
For pilots planning to fly to Nashville, they’ll need to reach out to the Memphis Regional Air Traffic Control Center for clearance before entering the airspace.
This latest staffing issue comes on the heels of a closure affecting the Hollywood airport in California just a day prior, which was also linked to air traffic controller lockouts. In a somewhat pointed remark, California Governor Gavin Newsom has attributed the situation to President Trump.
Since the shutdown began on October 1, many air traffic controllers and airport workers have voiced complaints about being unpaid and unwell. The impact has been felt widely, affecting numerous travel hubs across states including New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, and California, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and flight data.
By Tuesday afternoon, the tally showed over 2,152 flights had been delayed, which includes both domestic and international routes, with 58 cancellations noted.
On Monday alone, there were reportedly more than 6,140 delays, with a significant concentration at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport—which accounted for 42% of disruptions—and California’s Hollywood Burbank airport, causing about 23% of the issues. Additionally, nearly 90 flights faced cancellations.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has raised concerns over increasing health problems among air traffic controllers, who are categorized as essential workers. They are still required to report for duty without pay, placing an even heavier strain on their wellbeing and the air traffic control system.
