Pilots' association calls on lawmakers to end government shutdown immediately

close Video

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

A pilots' association jumped into the government shutdown fray Wednesday, calling on U.S. lawmakers to pass a "clean continuing resolution" and reopen the government, citing the mounting strain the shutdown has placed on airport employees.

"Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure — a government shutdown only compounds that stress and threatens the efficiency of our skies as we see the impact of reduced controller availability at facilities across the country," Jody Reven, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, wrote in a Wednesday statement.

"Likewise, TSA professionals continue to show up every day to safeguard the traveling public , ev