The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport to just 20 planes per hour on Sunday afternoon due to staffing shortages in the control tower, authorities said .

The staffing shortages are part of a wider strain on the nation’s air traffic system, which has been hit hard by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Average delays were around two hours, with some flights delayed by more than three hours, officials said. The FAA said the slowdown could escalate into a full ground stop if staffing issues continue or demand increases later in the day.

These delays aren’t just affecting Newark.

Flights across the region, including at JFK and LaGuardia, may also encounter delays due to the ripple effect. Planes headed to Newark may be held at

See Full Page