Sean Duffy Blamed Sick Controllers For Friday’s 11,000 Flight Disruptions — Now They’re Pushing Back

Nearly 11,000 flights were delayed or canceled Friday as thunderstorms hammered the Northeast and air traffic control staffing problems made recovery harder. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed controllers calling out sick, but FAA advisories throughout the day suggest weather was the primary driver, with staffing constraints becoming a compounding problem rather than the whole story.