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The Federal Aviation Administration was experiencing staffing issues or anticipating shortages at airports and other air traffic control facilities in the United States on Monday night. Reports of the staffing shortfalls came hours after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that there has been a slight increase in sick calls since the government shutdown began on Wednesday.There were no air traffic controllers expected at the tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area for an hours-long stretch Monday night because of staffing issues, a source familiar with the situation said.The Federal Aviation Administration’s website showed the staffing issue between 4 p.m. and 9:59 p.m. PT (7 pm. Monday to 12:59 a.m. Tuesday ET).The source told NBC News that some air traffic wil...

Two regional jets clipped each other on the ground at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Wednesday night, officials said, in the latest incident involving close calls or collisions of passenger aircraft this year.There was one minor injury reported after the planes, both Delta Connection flights operated by Delta-owned Endeavor Air, came into contact around 9:58 p.m., Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.One of the planes was taxiing to depart for Roanoke, Virginia, and the other had landed from Charlotte, North Carolina, and was taxiing to its arrival gate when the collision occurred, Delta said.Preliminary information is that the wing of the plane that was to depart made contact with the fuselage of the plane taxiing to the arrival gate, it said.“Delta ...

All United Airlines flights were grounded nationally this morning due to a "connectivity issue" before the ground stop was lifted 30 minutes later.The Federal Aviation Administration issued the stop at the company's request across the U.S. and Canada between 1 a.m. ET and 2:30 a.m. ET — but it was then canceled at 1:30 a.m.The reason given by the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) was simply "COMPANY REQUEST / TECHNOLOGY."The airline told NBC News in an emailed comment: "United experienced a brief connectivity issue just before midnight Central time on Tuesday, but has since resumed normal operations."FlightAware's "Misery Map" showing delays across the country showed 42 delays and 4 cancelations between 12 a.m. ET and 4 a.m. with LAX the worst effected.The airline had a...

BRUSSELS — A cyberattack targeting a service provider for check-in and boarding systems has disrupted operations at several major European airports including London’s Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, causing flight delays and cancellations, the operators said.The attack has rendered automated systems inoperable, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures, according to Brussels Airport.“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” the operator said in a statement published on its website.“The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.”Heathrow also warned of delays caused by “a technical issue” at a third-party supplier.Passengers with a flight sc...

DALLAS — Hundreds of flights in and out of Dallas were delayed or canceled Friday as telecommunications equipment issues disrupted one of the nation’s busiest airports, federal officials saidThe Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport because of a “reported local telephone company equipment issue.” The same problems were also impacting Dallas Love Field, according to the agency, which said the issue did not involve FAA equipment.The FAA expects the delays to continue well into Friday night.According to FlightAware, as of late Friday afternoon, nearly 700 flights in and out of D/FW Airport were delayed while about 200 were canceled. About 160 flights were delayed in and out of Love Field while one flight was canceled.A spokes...

The Federal Aviation Administration is instructing airlines to re-evaluate emergency evacuation procedures, including flight crews' training, announcements and commands to passengers, the agency told NBC News on Friday.The FAA said in a statement that the new recommendations are meant to ensure that "passengers understand they must leave carry-on items behind during an emergency evacuation.""Passengers have taken their carry-on items with them on a number of recent evacuations," the FAA said. "This slows the evacuation and puts lives at risk."The new instructions come months after several emergency evacuations where passengers could be seen scrambling off planes with their suitcases.In March, passengers escaped an American Airlines plane after its engine caught fire at Denver Internatio...

An air traffic controller on Tuesday had to repeatedly warn a Spirit Airlines flight to turn away from Air Force One's path as both traversed over New York, according to LiveATC audio. The Spirit Airlines flight was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Boston on Tuesday morning when the incident occurred. Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, was headed to the United Kingdom. In the audio, air traffic control could be heard warning the Spirit flight to "turn 20 degrees.""Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right," the air traffic controller said. “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now. Spirit Wings, 1300 turn 20 degrees right immediately. Pay attention.” A source with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News that the Spirit flight and Air Force One maint...

A Swiss International Air Lines passenger jet departing for Zurich from Boston came to a halt during takeoff after it made a loud noise and a puff of smoke emerged from its engine, video shows.The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement the carrier's flight 55 was departing from Boston Logan International Airport but halted takeoff because it had "engine issues" at roughly 6:25 p.m. Tuesday.Social media video verified by NBC News shows the Airbus A330-300 begin to accelerate before there is visible combustion in its No. 2 engine, which briefly spit out flames and emitted an explosive sound. The video shows a puff of smoke emerging behind the jetliner.After that, the plane slowed, then stopped, as runway-based first responders scrambled. The plane was not airborne, and all it...

Three flight attendants suffered minor injuries during a turbulent Delta Air Lines journey from Ecuador to Atlanta, officials said Tuesday.Medical personnel met Flight 632 when it touched down at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International on Sunday after the plane "encountered moderate turbulence while en route," according to a Delta statement.The Boeing 767 was carrying 206 customers from Quito, Ecuador (UIO).

There are a ton of reasons you might need a backpack. Whether you’re a student, an athlete, a teacher or a parent shopping for your child, it’s important to look for a few important features to find the best backpack for your particular needs. Things like durable zippers that won’t get stuck and pockets for everyday essentials like water bottles and laptop sleeves provide the ultimate convenience. To find the best backpacks, I spoke with multiple experts, including a chiropractor and an accessories design professor at The Fashion Institute of Technology, for their guidance. There are a few important characteristics to keep in mind when looking for a good backpack. Here’s what our experts recommend keeping in mind: Size: The size of your backpack is important, not just because it needs t...