Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily lost radar and communications with aircraft on April 28, causing significant disruptions and exposing critical vulnerabilities in the U.S. aviation infrastructure. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, controllers were unable to see, hear, or communicate with planes for a brief period, creating a highly stressful situation. Some controllers affected by the incident have since taken time off under the Federal Employees Compensation Act due to the emotional toll of recent outages.
The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged the issue, noting that outdated telecommunications equipment contributed to the failure. Efforts are now underway to enhance system reliability through a more resilient and redundant configuration with local carriers in the New York area. While the FAA did not confirm the exact length of the outage, reports suggest it lasted nearly 90 seconds.
More than 1,500 delays were recorded at Newark last week, partly due to staffing shortages exacerbated by the incident. United Airlines responded by cutting 35 daily flights from Newark to reduce pressure on the system and ease operational disruptions. CEO Scott Kirby stated that the New York air traffic facility has faced chronic understaffing, making it difficult to manage current traffic volumes.
The union representing the controllers refuted claims that staff walked off the job, explaining that time off was taken legally due to job-related trauma. The broader issue reflects a long-standing shortage of air traffic controllers across the U.S., a concern the FAA has been attempting to address with new hiring incentives. Controllers are subject to mandatory retirement at age 56, which contributes to the ongoing shortfall.
In 2023, the FAA relocated controllers managing Newark traffic from Long Island to Philadelphia in an effort to balance workloads among the region’s congested airspace. However, this move, along with flight cuts, has not achieved the desired relief. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey emphasized that despite infrastructure investments at Newark, further modernization and full staffing of the federal air traffic control system are essential.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to introduce a new air traffic control system, acknowledging the current setup’s limitations. Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called on the federal government to prioritize the region amid upcoming major events like the World Cup Finals and rising passenger demand.
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