Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has been branded unsafe for travellers after air traffic controllers reportedly lost contact with planes for more than a minute, in a dramatic incident that has sparked nationwide panic.
The world-famous airport – which serves nearly 50 million passengers a year – experienced a disruptive stream of delays and cancellations after a burnt copper wire caused a 90-second blackout of air traffic control on April 28. During this time, controllers were unable to see, hear, or communicate with any of the aircraft they were responsible for.
According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, those directing traffic at the time “temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them,” according to The Telegraph. Bloomberg confirmed that controllers managing planes in and out of Newark were essentially blind and deaf to aircraft movements for the duration of the outage. One air traffic controller stationed there has warned tourists to “avoid Newark at all costs”.
This equipment failure exposed the vulnerability of outdated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technology and staffing shortages that have plagued the system for months. The incident prompted delays, United Airlines cancellations, and even trauma leave for some air traffic controllers.
“In the past few days, on more than one occasion, technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed – resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and cancelled flights.”
He added that the issues were “compounded” because more than 20% of FAA controllers “walked off the job.” The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed that workers took leave under provisions designed to support employees who experience traumatic incidents while on duty. The union did not clarify how many controllers had taken leave or precisely how long they had lost contact with aircraft.
Newark, one of the busiest airport hubs in the United States and a key gateway to New York City, has been battling staffing issues for over a week. It also faces ongoing infrastructure challenges, with runway maintenance limiting operational capacity.
The airport saw 163 flight cancellations in a 24-hour period as of last Monday afternoon, according to data from FlightAware, leaving thousands of travellers stranded or delayed. Last week, United Airlines, which handles roughly 75% of Newark’s traffic, announced it would cut 35 flights per day from its schedule, stating the airport “cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there”.
The air traffic disruption at Newark is not an isolated event, but the latest in a string of aviation setbacks across the US In recent months, the country has witnessed a fatal crash involving an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter near Washington D.C, killing 67 people, and multiple near-misses at major airports, prompting broader concerns over national air safety.
One anonymous air traffic controller went as far as to urge the public not to fly into Newark, stating bluntly, “It’s not safe.”
FAA staffing issues are widespread. The agency is reportedly short around 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide. In the New York region specifically, the radar facility that oversees Newark’s airspace is operating at just 61% of its target staffing level. In addition to that, outdated systems such as copper wiring and even floppy disks in some control centres have raised further questions about FAA infrastructure.
The situation has drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a federal investigation into the FAA’s handling of the Newark incident and wider air traffic control failures. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has also acknowledged the need for urgent upgrades to systems and staffing to prevent further crises.
The Newark airport incident serves as a stark warning about the fragility of the US air traffic control system and the potential consequences of inaction.