WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it expects to hire at least 8,900 air traffic controllers by late 2028, but according to the agency's own numbers, this would not solve a nationwide staffing shortage.

In a workforce plan for air traffic controllers between now and the end of fiscal year 2028, which runs through September, the FAA detailed the ways in which it intends to "supercharge" hiring and training to address a shortfall of nearly 3,000 controllers.

But the report also revealed that because of projected losses from its current pool of controllers and washouts among its recruits, the FAA expects to have only about 1,000 additional certified controllers by the end of fiscal 2028.

The report illustrates the difficulties confronting the FAA as it scra

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