Travel misery erupted yesterday at one of America's busiest airports, with all departures to Newark International grounded on Wednesday due to severe staffing issues. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), no flights were departing for New Jersey's Newark Airport until at least 6:14 p.m. ET - with the agency warning of a "probability of extension between 30 to 60 percent" at the time.

The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center confirmed the dramatic shutdown was due to a critical lack of personnel and delays caused by air traffic control outages, and ongoing runway construction with passengers being urged to contact their air carriers as a matter of priority.

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