The longest government shutdown in US history hit air traffic controllers hard. Thirteen thousand worked without pay for over a month, taking up jobs driving for DoorDash and Instacart to survive. But staff shortages in US control towers go back decades before the shutdown. Despite being fatigued and overworked, the remaining controllers hold thousands of lives in their hands every day. Why is directing planes one of the most challenging jobs in the world? And why are there so few left to get passengers safely on the ground? Read "Air traffic controllers didn't get paid during the government shutdown. Here's how much they make normally": ------------------------------------------------------ #airtrafficcontrollers #governmentshutdown WATCH MORE BUSINESS INSIDER VIDEOS: How Pistachio Farmers Built A Billion-Dollar Empire During California Droughts Why Billionaires Are Burying Their Wealth In Bunkers How One Tiny Country Rivals American Farming Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: Business Insider on Facebook: Business Insider on Instagram: Business Insider on Twitter: Business Insider on Snapchat: Business Insider on TikTok: @businessinsider Why There’s An Air Traffic Controller Shortage | Business Insider