The government shutdown is taking a growing toll on air traffic controllers who are working without pay. Staffing shortages led to big delays over the weekend, raising concerns about travel chaos.

The plan, which officials said was intended to help air traffic controllers, could force the cancellation of thousands of flights as the administration seeks to pressure Democrats to end the shutdown.

The Department of Transportation may close some parts of the airspace if enough air traffic controllers don’t show up to work, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic at many busy airports to maintain safety during the government shutdown, which has led to staffing shortages of air traffic controllers.

In Queens, a college of aeronautics is trying to help meet the need for controllers. I put on a headset and gave the training a try.

Apple TV is hoping to keep the planes in the sky with The Flick, a thriller centered on a heroic air traffic controller. Apple Original Films has picked up The Flick, an unpublished short story from writer Matt Hickey set in the high-pressure world of air traffic control.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the incident.

Major airlines are providing meals and support to unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA officers during the federal government shutdown.