Last night, at about 10 p.m. Eastern, I got the message no traveler wants to see: My flight was canceled. I was supposed to fly from Evansville, Indiana (EVV) to Orlando (MCO) tonight on Breeze Airways — a trip I’ve made dozens of times. But with the FAA ordering mass flight cancelations across the country due to staffing issues and ripple effects from the government shutdown, my plans changed fast.

Waiting…

According to reports from NBC News, the FAA has grounded or delayed thousands of flights nationwide as they scramble to manage critical air traffic control shortages. Some airports have seen cancellations rise by more than 40% compared to an average Friday, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner — traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year — this is starting to look like a major travel crisis in the making.

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