Unpaid air traffic controllers say government shutdown puts flying public in danger

The U.S government shutdown has introduced unnecessary risk and danger to our national airspace, according to air traffic controllers who are now working without pay.

Air traffic controllers are mandated to continue working. Their union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has publicly warned its members not to miss work.

But the added stress brought on by the shutdown, and the loss of furloughed support staff that maintain critical systems, makes their job harder — and the skies less safe, the union said Tuesday as its members passed out brochures to travelers at O’Hare International Airport.

“Any time that you reduce any type of staffing in a safety-critical occupation, holes develop in that safety net,” said Matt Ellington, an air traffic controller and facility represe