Air traffic controllers are missing another paycheck due to the ongoing government shutdown, raising concerns about financial stress affecting their work. A number of isolated flight delays have been reported since the shutdown began as more controllers call out sick. The Federal Aviation Administration was already short on staff before the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels emphasize the pressure on controllers. Some are taking second jobs to make ends meet. The shutdown is also hindering efforts to reduce the shortage of controllers. Though pressure is mounting on Congress, Democrats and Republicans have shown little sign of being able to reach a deal to fund the government.

The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports. The situation may well get worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks. And there is no way to predict what airports might have problems on any given day. So be sure to check your flight's status before you head to the airport. If your flight is canceled, airlines will rebook you on a later flight. If you no longer want to take the trip, you should be able to get a refund. But each airline's policies can differ, and airlines are not required to pay cash compensation.

Salvage crews have removed a large portion of a commercial jet from the Potomac River near Washington's Reagan National Airport after a midair collision last week that killed 67 people. Authorities have said the operation to remove the plane will take several days and they will then work to remove the military helicopter involved in the crash. The crash between the American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C. on Wednesday was the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001. More than 300 responders are taking part in the recovery effort at any given time. Two Navy barges are deployed to lift heavy wreckage.

Police boats continue to search the Potomac River as part of the recovery and investigation into the United States' deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. said Friday that bodies of 41 of the 67 people who died in Wednesday night's collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter have been recovered. Planes continue to take off and land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, where the plane was about to land when the collision occurred, though officials say two of the airport's three runways remained closed on Friday. Federal investigators have said they would not speculate on the cause.