American airports faced massive disruptions: over 11 thousand flights were canceled in one day, a record high since the coronavirus crisis. Additionally, another 17 thousand flights nationwide were delayed.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced this in an interview with Fox News. He said the country hasn't experienced air travel disruption of this magnitude since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The head of the department emphasized that the collapse was not solely due to adverse weather conditions. Airport staffing shortages, a problem that continues to plague the American aviation industry, played a significant role.

The situation affected hundreds of thousands of passengers across the United States, who were forced to seek alternative routes or postpone their trips indefinitely.