Even though the U.S. has a stark shortage of air traffic controllers, ones who call in sick instead of working without a paycheck during the federal government shutdown risk being fired, the U.S. transportation secretary warned.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that he understands the controllers’ frustrations and worries.

But during an appearance Thursday on Fox Business, he said that by calling in sick they are causing major disruptions to air traffic, and it won’t be tolerated.

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A ground stop was issued Friday afternoon at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to a fire alarm incident involving “strong gas fumes,” the FAA confirmed. 

Planes were grounded around 5 p.m. ET. 

The FAA said the ground stop went into effect after an alarm was triggered by a “strong” odor of gas fumes. 

The airport’s air traffic control tower was evacuated, and first responders were at the airport, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

The FAA said a secondary air traffic control tower is being set up, and, once that happens, the ground stop will be lifted. 

The airport is one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.

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As the government shutdown enters its tenth day, staffing issues continue to impact air travel across the country.

Twelve air traffic control facilities were short-staffed throughout Friday, causing another spate of delayed flights, per the Federal Aviation Administration.

CNN outlined all the facilities that are currently facing issues – with two different centers at Newark Liberty International Airport no longer impacted.

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Tower [9 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET]
• Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (two parts) until 1 a.m. ET.
• Central Florida TRACON until 11 p.m. ET.
• Chicago Center until 1 a.m. ET.
• Chicago TRACON until 1 a.m. ET.
• Indianapolis Center [Midnight – 6 a.m. ET]
• New York Center until 11 p.m ET.
• Southern California TRACON (two parts) until midnight ET

Air traffic control facilities that oversee flights for Denver, Albuquerque and Los Angeles will also operate with a reduced staff Wednesday night, per CNN.

The FAA announced that Denver's control tower will be understaffed until midnight, Albuquerque until 10 p.m. EST and Los Angeles through midnight.

Nearly 200 remote communities could find themselves cut off from civilization if the government shutdown lasts through the weekend when funding for their rural airports runs dry – and the outlook for major travel hubs isn’t much brighter.

The Essential Air Service program (EAS) — which subsidizes flights at more than 170 remote airports across all 50 states – only has enough cash to last through Sunday, and will stop reimbursing small time airport operations until the federal government reopens when it runs dry, the US Transportation Department announced Monday.

That means airports, airlines, and pilots could have no choice but to shut down – leaving thousands without access to work, hospitals, and other critical services they depend on to sustain their lives in remote communities.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on Wednesday that the government shutdown has resulted in a massive spike in staffing-related flight delays.

"Historically, there's about five percent of delays attributed to staffing issues in our towers," Duffy said during an interview with Fox News' Will Cain."The last couple days it's been 53 percent."

Several major airports have experienced staffing delays in recent days, with the shutdown threatening to further strain the country's air travel.

Duffy reiterated the same point he made to CNN's Jake Tapper: air traffic controllers should show up for work.

"My message to the air traffic controllers who work for DOT is show up for work," Duffy said. "You have a job to do, and by the way, those who have shown up, I'm grateful for them and their service. But the bottom line is, these controllers are stressed out, and they're rebelling on this shutdown because they may not get paid. 

"They're working six days a week. They're keeping America operational, and they're not guaranteed a paycheck. They're frustrated by it, and so not coming into work."

A group representing major U.S. airlines said it is imperative the Federal Aviation Administration accomplish some “quick wins” in the $12.5 billion overhaul of the aging air traffic control system, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu in a previously unreported letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA should quickly implement airspace modernization designs, buy simulators to improve controller training, lay telecommunications fiber and buy new radars and radios.

“These initial wins will create tangible benefits for the traveling and shipping public, help coordinate messaging on progress and boost optimism on the prospects of moving the project to completion,” Sununu, who heads the group that represents American Airlines (AAL.O), United Airlines (UAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), wrote.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has a simple message to air traffic controllers as the government shutdown wreaks havoc on travel across the United States.

“I’m encouraging air traffic controllers to show up for work," Duffy said on Wednesday during an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.

Several major airports are experiencing staffing shortages as the shutdown leaves air traffic controllers unpaid – along with an uptick in workers calling in sick.

However, Duffy stressed the importance of air traffic controllers manning their posts.

"They need to go to their jobs," Duffy added. "They need to control the airspace.”

Duffy acknowledged that air traffic controllers could express some "rebellious" behavior over the current situation, but said they would be paid once the shutdown ends.

He also acknowledged the heightened stress they face.

“They are stressed out. They are wondering, how do they put food on the table? How do they pay their mortgages if their paycheck doesn’t come through?” Duffy said.

An advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration Wednesday warned that flights at Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Airport were delayed due to "staffing."

Delays were averaging 31 minutes, per the FAA.

In total, 160 flights were delayed at DCA as of 6:40 p.m. EST on Wednesday evening, according to FlightAware.

DCA is the latest major airport to feel the strain of the current government shutdown as air traffic controllers remained unpaid for the third consecutive day.

California's Hollywood Burbank Airport went dark Monday night with nobody manning the ATC towers. On Tuesday night, Nashville International Airport followed suit as the tower went unmanned from 5:00 p.m. until midnight.

Airports all across the country have dealt with staffing shortages and an uptick in air traffic controllers calling in sick.

This situation can’t fly.

The safety of every American plane passenger is being imperiled as the government shutdown drags into its second week, irate air traffic controllers say.

More than 14,000 controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration won’t be paid until the shutdown ends — and the stress is impacting their ability to avert aviation catastrophes.

Two controllers who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity described a situation that is becoming more dangerous by the day, telling travelers to take heed.

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LaGuardia Airport experienced an hour-long ground stop on Wednesday afternoon due to an equipment outage, per Bloomberg News.

Flights were not allowed in or out of the Queens, New York, airport until 4 p.m. EST.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that an extension of the delays was unlikely, according to the outlet.

More than 260 flights have experienced delays at the airport on Wednesday, but none have been canceled, per FlightAware.

The ground stop exacerbated the strain on airports and flights across the country amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Newark Liberty International Airport is expected to reduce its inbound and outbound flights amidst staffing shortages from the government shutdown.

The Federal Aviation Agency made the announcement Wednesday morning, though it remains unclear when the reduction — known as a staffing trigger — would go into effect, NBC News reported.

Newark Airport began experiencing staffing shortages Monday after air traffic controllers began working without pay due to the government shutdown.

Other airports across the country began experiencing delays Monday that have persisted throughout the week, including in Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Houston.