The former FAA official says that amid the government shutdown, air traffic controllers are reaching a painful tipping point.

The transportation secretary's visit comes as air traffic controllers are slated to miss their first full paycheck next week.

Travellers are in for a rough week, as the partial government shutdown nears its one-month mark and Hurricane Melissa continues to cause disruptions. On Oct. 26, the Federal Aviation Administration said staffing shortages prompted a nearly two-hour ground stop at Los Angeles International