What Happened in Burbank Airport? ATC Shortages Trigger Delays

Hollywood Burbank Airport remains open today, but air traffic operations are facing serious disruption. Due to acute staffing shortages in air traffic control, the tower is unmanned for several hours, and traffic is being managed by a regional facility. What happened in Burbank Airport is raising concerns about safety, delays, and broader system stresses.

The FAA confirmed that sick calls and sudden absences left the Burbank control tower unmanned from about 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Control responsibilities were transferred to the Southern California TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) center. This move has triggered cascading delays across the region as the system copes with reduced local control capacity.

What Happened in Burbank Airport? Key Details

At around 4:15 p.m. Pacific, Burbank Airport’s control tower went unmanned, according to airport and FAA statements. The tower remained unattended due to a combination of sick calls, last-minute absences, and scheduling gaps. The FAA said the staffing collapse became “acute” and promised restoration as quickly as possible.

In response, the FAA handed over local control duties to the Southern California TRACON (SCT), which normally handles approach and departure coordination over a broad swath of airspace. Since SCT covers from roughly 20 miles north of Burbank down to the U.S.–Mexico border, and west to Santa Catalina Island, it is stretched to accommodate additional local traffic. Under this arrangement, Burbank’s arrivals and departures are proceeding, but at a reduced rate.

The FAA warned that delays would be severe. Departure delays averaged **151 minutes** at Burbank, and ground delays were imposed at other nearby airports to reduce approaching congestion. To maintain safety, flights to Burbank are being slowed or held. Airport and FAA officials confirmed that operations are not suspended — but heavily constrained.

Governor Gavin Newsom publicly blamed the staffing collapse on the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, stating that “Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. today because of YOUR government shutdown.” The shutdown has strained multiple federal functions and is already affecting infrastructure. Multiple airports nationwide are also reporting ATC staffing stress.

The tower is expected to remain unmanned until approximately 10 p.m. local time, per FAA and airport statements. Meanwhile, coordination with SCT and other regional facilities continues to manage safety and traffic flow. Travelers are being warned to expect long delays, possible reroutes, and limited flexibility during this period.

Wider Implications & Reactions

This event underscores how vulnerable the U.S. air traffic system can become under staffing pressure. The reliance on regional TRACONs as backup is not new, but the scale of this incident reveals potential limits in handling sudden local failures. Many airports have reported increased sick calls and absenteeism across FAA staff as the shutdown drags on.

For passengers and airlines, the ripple effects are significant. Flights scheduled to Burbank may face long holds, cancellations, or diversions. Connecting flights and crew scheduling will also be disrupted. Nearby airports may reduce incoming traffic to ease downstream congestion. Airlines may need to rework plans in real time.

In the longer term, this episode may prompt renewed calls for contingency staffing strategies, better surge capacity, or remote/virtual tower technologies. Remote tower setups — where control is handled offsite — have been explored in Europe and may offer resilience in crisis scenarios.

In sum: What happened in Burbank Airport is a serious ATC staffing failure, not an official shutdown, but one that constrains operations significantly. Travelers should brace for delays well into the evening.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What exactly caused Burbank’s ATC collapse?

A mix of sick calls, sudden absences, and scheduling gaps left no controllers available locally. The FAA called it an “acute” shortage.

Q2: Is Burbank Airport closed?

No. The airport remains operational. But control is being handled externally and flights are heavily delayed.

Q3: Are other airports affected by ATC shortages?

Yes. Staffing issues and delays are being reported at several U.S. airports amid the federal shutdown.

Q4: Could this lead to permanent changes in airport control systems?

Possibly. Remote and virtual tower models, plus surge staffing plans, may gain renewed attention as resilience measures.

Q5: What should travelers to Burbank do now?

Check flight status directly with airlines, expect delays, and allow extra time for rebooking or reroutes.