Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday called for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to resign after a nationwide FAA ground stop forced the cancellation of thousands of flights across the United States. The halt, which affected more than 3,500 aircraft already in the air as radar and communications systems faltered, left travelers stranded and raised safety concerns, though no lives were lost, according to CBS6 Albany.
Hochul said, “America’s airspace ground to a halt yesterday, leaving thousands of flights canceled and travelers stranded across the country. More than 3,500 planes were already in the air as radar and communications systems faltered. We’re fortunate no lives were lost.” She added that families preparing for the holidays deserve answers and confidence in the safety of the nation’s skies, and urged Congress to launch a full investigation.
The FAA lifted the order around 8:15 p.m. on Friday, but the Albany International Airport still experienced a handful of cancelled flights that night, with additional cancellations expected into Saturday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, attributed the disruption to the country’s aging air‑traffic control system, describing it as a chronic issue that has led to repeated communications breakdowns.
In response, Hochul said, “From chronic air traffic controller shortages to repeated communications breakdowns, serious lapses in our aviation system have become a pattern on Sean Duffy’s watch.” She concluded, “Sean Duffy must resign, or President Trump must remove him immediately,” placing the decision squarely on the current administration.
While the governor’s demand adds political pressure, the administration has emphasized that the incident highlights the need for modernization of the nation’s air‑traffic infrastructure rather than a leadership failure. The situation remains under review as the FAA works to restore normal operations and the administration prepares to address congressional inquiries.
Sources: cbs6albany.com
