Major US airport near closure amid government shutdown — and it’s worrying news for Disney fans

As nan 5th week of nan authorities shutdown comes to a close, a shortage of aerial postulation controllers has led 1 awesome airdrome to cancel each landings.

Thousands of flights person been delayed owed to staffing shortages amid nan authorities shutdown — and Orlando International Airport came adjacent to canceling each landings.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced connected Thursday evening that location would beryllium “no certified controllers for a play of time,” which would “prevent landings” astatine nan celebrated recreation hub, nan closest awesome airdrome to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

The bid was later reversed erstwhile capable unit were found, but flights successful and retired of MCO proceed to look awesome delays — pinch mean delays of astir 2 hours and 40 minutes, pinch immoderate flights delayed for astir 12 hours and respective canceled, according to nan New York Times.

Other awesome airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, person knowledgeable awesome delays arsenic well.

Sky News reported that formation search website FlightAware said astir 6,000 flights were delayed and 1,100 canceled nationwide connected Thursday. This impacted 20% of flights astatine United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Since nan shutdown began connected Oct. 1, much than 13,000 aerial postulation controllers person been moving without salary — and nan magnitude calling successful sick has increased. Some are moreover moving 2nd jobs to make capable to live.

During a authorities shutdown, national workers specified arsenic subject personnel, concealed work agents, NASA, aerial postulation controllers and National Parks unit are required to activity without pay.

Many aerial postulation controllers person been moving mandatory overtime and six-day weeks moreover earlier nan shutdown began — and nan FAA is astir 3,500 aerial postulation controllers short of targeted levels.

Two controllers who spoke to The Post earlier this month said nan business that is becoming much vulnerable by nan day.

“The financial worry doesn’t conscionable wounded morale; it straight affects safety,” 1 controller successful South Carolina declared. “When personification responsible for thousands of lives a time is worrying astir whether they tin salary rent aliases provender their kids, attraction suffers. Sometimes that mini infinitesimal wherever your mind is elsewhere tin person superior impacts.”

A 2nd controller, moving successful California, warned: “The shutdown is affecting each azygous personification walking successful nan United States astatine this time. More accent equals much risk; that’s conscionable basal communal sense.”