Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said workers have gone too long without paychecks to work safely.

NATCA President Nick Daniels said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Wednesday that it could take the industry "weeks to recover" from the impacts of the shutdown.

Sixty-hour workweeks, low morale and missed paychecks have driven air traffic controllers to their breaking point.

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said workers have gone too long without paychecks to work safely.

Flight delays and cancellations piled up in recent days as air traffic controller staffing shortages worsen in the government shutdown.