Newark, New Jersey — A recent disruption in air traffic control at Newark Liberty International Airport has raised significant safety concerns as the fallout from the incident continues into its second week. The communication failure, which occurred at the Philadelphia air traffic control facility on April 28, resulted in extensive flight cancellations and delays, as well as questions about the outdated systems still in use.
As of Tuesday, flights arriving at Newark were experiencing average delays of up to four hours, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The staggering impact of the outage has led to renewed scrutiny of the air traffic control systems, as controllers face the challenges of a national labor shortage while grappling with trauma related to the incident.
One air traffic controller, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the scene upon his return from a break. He recounted a frantic environment where his colleagues were recovering from a communications outage lasting between 60 to 90 seconds. During this time, they were unable to track aircraft on radar or communicate with pilots, leading to a chaotic situation.
The outage stemmed from a breakdown in radar data originating from a facility in Westbury, New York. Control of Newark’s airspace was transferred to Philadelphia last July, with data now relayed via a remote connection that one source likened to “a long extension cord.” The controller noted that this data transmission primarily relies on a single feed that lacks redundancy, raising serious concerns about the system’s reliability.
This vulnerability had manifested before; the controller indicated that the data feed had previously failed on multiple occasions, including one instance where a FedEx aircraft overshot its approach due to communication issues. He emphasized the potentially life-threatening consequences of such failures, stating that it was a fortunate coincidence that no other planes were on a collision course at that time.
During the peak of the outage, about 15 to 20 flights were under the control of Newark approach controllers, based on data compiled by flight tracking services. Incredibly outdated systems have exacerbated the problem, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calling them ineffective for modern air traffic management. “We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” Duffy remarked, underscoring the urgent need for an upgrade.
On Monday, he noted that controllers lost primary communication lines without the backup seamlessly taking over, leading to a perilous scenario likened to driving while blindfolded. A former FAA air traffic controller described the anxiety of being unable to communicate with pilots, comparing the experience to feeling completely out of control during a crisis.
Tensions were palpable, as recordings from air traffic control illustrated the distressing exchanges between controllers and pilots attempting to land amid the confusion. “[It’s] kind of like on 9/11, you see situations unfold that you have no control over,” said another expert, highlighting the profound psychological toll of the event on air traffic personnel.
Five FAA employees, including a supervisor and three controllers, have taken leave due to trauma from the incident, reflecting the emotional strain associated with such high-stakes situations. The controller who spoke anonymously expressed concern that the ongoing issues might be dismissed. “This stuff takes a toll on you, especially when we keep saying this is going to happen again,” he warned.
Aviation experts have commended the efforts of air traffic controllers, noting their ability to navigate a crisis in a system that often leaves them vulnerable. “They perform quiet heroic acts,” one analyst remarked, while also pointing out the excessive stress placed on such critical personnel.
As the FAA continues to address the fallout from this incident, the situation remains a stark reminder of the urgent need for modernization in the country’s air traffic control systems, as the safety of countless passengers hangs in the balance.