TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 Tasha Pizarro, owner of Momma P’s Ice Cream, and her family finally arrived in Tallahassee after she says they were stuck in Arizona due to multiple flight delays and a cancellation caused by the ongoing government shutdown. <\/p>\n
The FAA ordered major airports to reduce flights by 10%<\/a> by Nov. 14th as air traffic controllers go without pay. Since then, more than 8,000 flights \u201cwithin, into or out of the United States\u201d have been canceled, and more than 30,000 flights have been delayed, according to FlightAware. Watch the video below to hear how she and her family got back to Tallahassee. <\/p>\n NE Tallahassee family share journey home after being stuck in Arizona as flight delays, cancellations continue<\/p>\n BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n Can you imagine being stranded in a completely different state?<\/p>\n Well, for one small business owner in Tallahassee, it became a reality turned nightmare.<\/p>\n Owner of Momma P\u2019s Ice Cream<\/a>, Tasha Pizarro, and her family were trapped in Phoenix, Arizona, after their flight was canceled because of the ongoing government shutdown.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in Phoenix last week for an ice cream convention,\u201d Pizarro said. \u201cWe didn’t fly out until Saturday, and when we got to the airport, like around 10 o’clock that morning,\u00a0we had already seen that, you know, flights on the board were canceled or delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did you realize you weren\u2019t coming home anytime soon?\u201d ABC 27\u2019s Brieanna Smith asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think as soon as we got the second delay,\u201d she said. \u201cWe all knew, but no one wanted to really admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that Pizarro\u2019s finally home, ABC 27 talked to her about her experience.<\/p>\n She\u2019s since had to spend $600 on hotel stays and food while away.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was, you know, lost revenue, and being a small business owner, you know, I wasn’t expecting\u00a0those extra expenses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But her story speaks to larger impacts being seen across the country.<\/p>\n Data from FlightAware<\/a> shows more than 8,000 flights \u201cwithin, into or out of the United States\u201d have been canceled and more than 30,000 were delayed, following an order from the FAA to reduce flights by 10%<\/a> at major airports by Nov. 14th, and as air traffic controllers go unpaid.<\/p>\n ABC 27 looked at local impacts at Tallahassee International Airport Monday<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Six flights have been canceled since Friday, and one was canceled on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this time, like I say, we continue to monitor it on a daily basis.\u00a0We stay in close contact with our stakeholders, our partners, our airline partners,\u00a0as we continue to move ahead and receive information out of Washington that may impact airports and or airlines,\u201d Tallahassee International Airport Aviation Director David Pollard said Monday.<\/p>\n There could be some relief on the horizon as the U.S. Senate has reached a deal to fund the government until January 30th.<\/p>\n The House could vote on this as soon as Wednesday, according to Scripps News<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n As for Pizarro, she set on recovering the funds she used from her business to get home\u00a0and getting back to normal.<\/p>\n \u201cI got to get back to work. Tomorrow, I\u2019ve got to, you know, go out, start selling ice cream again,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n As of Tuesday, about 1,890 flights were canceled.<\/p>\n Pizarro\u2019s advice for anyone that finds themselves in the same situation is to stay positive and stay informed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n