Ruth Haines
Passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport have been experiencing a series of delays and cancellations due to air traffic control outages, staffing shortages, and equipment malfunctions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed an outage on Friday morning, which caused radar screens to go black for around 90 seconds. This is the latest in a string of technical issues impacting the airport, with sources citing problems with runway construction, inadequate staffing levels, and outdated technology as reasons for the ongoing disruptions. These issues have resulted in widespread delays and cancellations, affecting not only Newark but also other major airports across the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date and Time | 10 May 2025, early morning |
| Location | Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey |
| Incident | Radar and communications outage |
| Duration | 60 to 90 seconds |
| Cause | Technical problems, equipment malfunction |
| Impact | Delays, cancellations, ground stops |
| Response | FAA improvements, increased staffing, upgraded technology |
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What You'll Learn
Air traffic control outage
On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed an air traffic control outage at Newark Liberty International Airport. The outage lasted about 90 seconds, starting at 3:55 a.m. local time. During the outage, air traffic controllers lost radar and communications with aircraft, with computer screens going dark. As a result, the FAA issued a temporary ground stop, briefly halting all departures to the airport. Audio captured by LiveATC.net revealed the extent of the outage, with controllers directing planes to contact controllers at different frequencies or maintain altitudes of at least 3,000 feet.
This incident was the latest in a series of technical problems affecting the air traffic control system in the United States. Just a few days earlier, on April 28, an outage of radar and communications at the same facility left controllers unable to communicate with planes or track their locations for an extended period. This previous outage led to significant trauma for air traffic controllers, with at least five taking 45 days of medical leave, exacerbating staffing shortages. The combination of equipment malfunctions and staffing shortages caused several days of delays and cancellations for passengers traveling through Newark Airport.
In response to the ongoing issues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the problems and implemented temporary safety measures, including reducing traffic into the airport. However, these measures resulted in widespread delays and cancellations, impacting not only Newark but also other major airports across the United States. To address the situation, the FAA announced immediate steps to enhance the reliability of operations at Newark Liberty International Airport. These steps included accelerating technological and logistical improvements and increasing air traffic controller staffing.
The FAA's plans involve upgrading to fiberoptic technology for faster and more reliable communications between the radar data system in New York and the air traffic control facility in Philadelphia, which manages Newark's airspace. Additionally, the FAA is prioritizing controller staffing, with 21 controllers and supervisors in training specifically for the Newark airspace operations center, with classes scheduled through July 2026. These measures aim to improve the efficiency and safety of one of the world's busiest airspaces.
The issues at Newark Airport highlight the urgent need for upgrades to aviation technology and infrastructure, as well as addressing the nationwide air traffic controller shortage. Airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines have been forced to cancel flights and reduce schedules to manage the impact on their customers. As a result of these ongoing challenges, there have been renewed calls for investments in modern technology and infrastructure to ensure the smooth and safe operation of busy airports like Newark Liberty International Airport.
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Radar and communication issues
On Friday, May 9, 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a series of radar and communication issues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed an air traffic control outage that impacted radar displays and telecommunications. This outage lasted for approximately 90 seconds, causing radar screens to go black and preventing controllers from communicating with aircraft.
In audio captured by LiveATC.net, an air traffic controller is heard informing a FedEx plane that their "scopes just went black again," requesting that the airline be contacted to address the issue promptly. Another controller advised a private aircraft of the brief radar outage, instructing them to maintain an altitude of at least 3,000 feet in case communication was lost during descent.
The outage affected Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which is responsible for guiding aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport's airspace. This incident marked the latest in a series of technical problems affecting the air traffic control system in the United States.
The radar and communication issues at Newark Airport have resulted in significant disruptions for passengers, including delays and cancellations. These problems have been attributed to staffing shortages and equipment malfunctions. To address the situation, the FAA has implemented measures such as accelerating technological and logistical improvements and increasing air traffic controller staffing.
The FAA has acknowledged the urgent need to enhance the reliability of operations at Newark Liberty International Airport. They have also recognized the importance of addressing controller staffing issues, with ongoing training initiatives in place to ensure a sufficient number of controllers are available for Newark airspace operations. These steps are crucial in ensuring the safe and efficient management of air traffic at the airport.
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Staff shortages
The FAA reported that staffing shortages at the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in Philadelphia, which manages Newark arrivals and departures, impacted their ability to provide approach control services. This resulted in a "flow constrained area," where traffic managers had to carefully meter air traffic to ensure it didn't exceed what the limited number of controllers could handle.
The staffing shortages were exacerbated by equipment failures and outages, causing further delays. In one instance, controllers lost radar contact with an incoming flight, leading to a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, more than 20% of FAA controllers at Newark walked off the job due to stress and trauma caused by equipment outages, according to Kirby and the controllers' union.
The FAA has implemented various measures to address the staffing shortages, including financial incentives to hire and retain air traffic controllers. However, the issues have persisted for over a week, causing hours-long delays and cancellations. Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status before heading to the airport, as the delays are expected to continue.
The situation at Newark Airport highlights the broader challenges faced by the aviation industry, including outdated infrastructure and technology. These issues have compounded to create a challenging environment for air travel, impacting travelers across the country.
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Delays and cancellations
In one instance, an outage of radar and communications at the same facility caused significant disruptions, leading to more than a thousand flights being delayed or cancelled. The FAA issued a ground stop at the airport due to construction, which was in effect until 11:15 a.m. ET. Additionally, the airport has been facing challenges due to ongoing runway construction, contributing to the mess and further delays and cancellations.
Airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines have been impacted by the situation, with United Airlines unilaterally cancelling 35 round-trip flights per day from its Newark schedule. The issues at Newark Airport have had a ripple effect, causing delays and disruptions at other major airports across the United States, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas.
The FAA has acknowledged the problems and is taking steps to address them. They are working on accelerating technological and logistical improvements and increasing air traffic controller staffing. The FAA has also announced plans for a new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system to replace the current one.
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FAA response and fixes
The FAA has acknowledged the issues at Newark Liberty International Airport, including air traffic control outages, staffing shortages, and equipment malfunctions, causing delays and cancellations. In response, the FAA is taking immediate steps to improve the situation.
Firstly, the FAA is addressing the technological issues. They have identified that the system processing radar data for Newark Airport is based in New York, while the controllers handling this data are based in Philadelphia, with telecom lines feeding the data between the two locations. To improve communications between these two centres, the FAA has added new lines of communication and is replacing connections with updated fibre optic technology to increase speed and reliability.
Secondly, the FAA is addressing the staffing shortages. They have stated that controller staffing is a priority, and they currently have 21 controllers and supervisors in training specifically for the Newark airspace operations centre, with classes scheduled until July 2026. This should help alleviate the current strain on resources and reduce the need for overtime, which has been a contributing factor in the current issues.
The FAA has also implemented temporary measures to manage the situation in the short term, including issuing ground stops and reducing traffic to the airport as a precaution to ensure safety. These measures have helped to minimise the impact on customers, but they are not long-term solutions.
The FAA has recognised the need for both technological upgrades and increased staffing levels to improve the reliability of operations at Newark Liberty International Airport and prevent further disruptions.
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Frequently asked questions
Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a radar outage that lasted about 90 seconds.
The outage was caused by a telecommunications failure that impacted the radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport.
There were no widespread delays or cancellations reported as of Wednesday morning, but a ground delay or ground stop program was expected after 1 pm Eastern.
Previous delays and cancellations at Newark Airport have been caused by air traffic control staffing shortages, equipment malfunctions, and runway construction.
The FAA is taking steps to improve the reliability of operations at Newark Airport, including accelerating technological and logistical improvements and increasing air traffic controller staffing.
