Fact Check: Transportation Secretary Duffy Did Not Tell Pilots to “Go with Gut Feelings” Over Air Traffic Control

Recent claims circulating on social media suggesting that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made controversial remarks about pilots and air traffic controllers have been debunked as false.

Multiple posts appearing on platforms like Threads and X (formerly Twitter) alleged that Duffy told Fox News: “Pilots need to stop depending on air traffic controllers. They need to suck it up and go with their gut feelings.” The posts, which began spreading on November 8, 2025, presented the quote as a “BREAKING” statement from a recent interview.

An investigation into these claims found no evidence that Secretary Duffy ever made such remarks. No video footage, news reports, or official statements corroborate this alleged statement, which would have certainly generated significant media coverage given its controversial nature.

The posts in question consistently used an image taken from an unrelated Fox Business News appearance by Duffy from August 14, 2025 – months before the supposed statement. In that verified appearance, Duffy discussed space exploration and the need for a U.S. moon base, topics entirely unrelated to aviation or air traffic control.

The fabricated quote emerged during a particularly tense period in the U.S. aviation industry. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had recently ordered airlines to reduce flight schedules due to staffing shortages in air traffic control and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations. These shortages were directly linked to an ongoing federal government shutdown, which at the time had entered its sixth week.

A review of Secretary Duffy’s public statements during this period shows no indication he made any comments downplaying the importance of air traffic controllers or suggesting pilots should operate independently of established safety protocols. Such a statement would represent a dramatic departure from the Department of Transportation’s consistent emphasis on aviation safety standards.

Comprehensive Google searches conducted at the time revealed that the only sources for this quote were the social media posts themselves, with no legitimate news organizations reporting on such remarks. Had the Transportation Secretary actually made such a statement, it would have triggered immediate reactions from aviation industry groups, safety advocates, and federal regulatory agencies.

The aviation industry has long operated under strict safety protocols that emphasize the critical relationship between pilots and air traffic controllers. This collaboration forms the backbone of the National Airspace System’s safety infrastructure. Any suggestion from a Transportation Secretary that pilots should disregard air traffic control guidance would represent an unprecedented break with safety policies and professional standards.

The falsified quote appears to be an attempt to capitalize on the ongoing tension surrounding the federal shutdown and its impact on aviation operations. By attaching a provocative, fabricated statement to a recognizable government official during a period of genuine concern, the misinformation gained traction among some social media users.

This incident highlights the importance of verifying information from official sources, especially during periods of heightened public concern about critical infrastructure and safety systems. Transportation and aviation experts consistently emphasize that the coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers remains essential to maintaining the exceptional safety record of U.S. commercial aviation.

As the federal shutdown continues to affect aviation operations, legitimate concerns about staffing and resources remain important topics for public discussion, but fabricated statements only serve to confuse the issues at hand.