Newark Airport travelers face extended flight delays and cancellations for a second week following air traffic control system failures and subsequent controller absences. The disruption began over a week ago after a technical breakdown affected communications for controllers managing air traffic into the busy New Jersey hub.
The problems stem from an incident on Monday, April 28, when air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, responsible for coordinating arrivals at Newark, lost radar and communication capabilities with aircraft under their control. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed the temporary loss, stating controllers were unable to see, hear, or talk to planes.
A source familiar with the situation described the connectivity between the Federal Aviation Administration radar and controller frequencies as having "completely failed."
Following the incident, five FAA employees took leave under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, a program covering government employees who experience traumatic events on the job. The controller's union stated controllers did not "walk off the job" but took absence due to the traumatic event of their equipment failure.
Control over flights arriving into Newark Airport was transferred last summer from a Long Island, New York, FAA facility to Philadelphia. The source indicated connections originally residing in Long Island had to be modified to work with the Philadelphia facility.
By Monday afternoon, more than 150 flights into or out of the airport were canceled, and over 250 flights delayed, according to flight tracking data FlightAware. This follows weekend disruptions where approximately 225 flights were canceled and over 950 flights delayed.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated Friday that the facility controlling Newark traffic has been "chronically understaffed for years." He also noted that technology used by FAA controllers to manage planes failed on multiple occasions last week.Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy acknowledged Friday that the outdated air traffic control system contributed to delays. He pledged implementation of a new system, which he estimated could take three to four years. The situation at Newark has also drawn focus to a broader air traffic controller shortage impacting the nation.
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York called Monday for the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General to investigate the issues at Newark. Schumer described the FAA as "a mess" and suggested the chaos at Newark could be a warning if issues are not fixed.
"We have a very safe system, but anytime it’s stressed like this, where you have controllers who are feeling under maximum pressure, it impacts safety – and people have a right to be concerned," stated Peter Goelz, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board.
