The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign for gamers in an attempt to address a nationwide air traffic controller shortage. The hiring window will open on April 17 and will be capped at 8,000 applicants. The recruitment video includes clips from gamers playing video games like Fortnite and footage of busy airports. The FAA currently has around 11,000 air traffic controllers on its staff, falling short of its target of 14,663 positions. The agency plans to hire at least 8,900 new controllers through 2028. However, a shortage persists, with a January 2026 report finding that while applications have surged in recent years, the number of controllers has fallen by about 6% even as flights have increased by roughly 10%.