Unpaid and stressed out: Air traffic controllers are struggling through shutdown, says union leader

The signs of a government shutdown were evident at airports nationwide.

At least 1,200 flights were canceled Friday, as documented by my colleagues Hannah Fry and Jenny Jarvie , with the situation only expected to worsen.

More than 50 flights were canceled at Los Angeles International Airport, while San Diego International Airport suffered a dozen such terminations.

Meanwhile, many air travelers experienced significant lags, ranging from 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours at Virginia’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday morning.

The cancellations have been deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, who have worked without a full paycheck for weeks.

While the conditions leading to flight delays has been well