Ruth Haines
Yesterday, travellers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey braced for more delays after a week of disruptions. The chaos was caused by a nationwide air traffic controller staffing shortage, technological failures, and a reported 20% of FAA controllers walking off the job. The issues resulted in radar and communication outages, with controllers losing the ability to see or communicate with pilots for up to 90 seconds. This led to hundreds of delays and cancellations, and at least five FAA employees taking 45 days of trauma leave.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 5th May 2025 |
| Airport | Newark Liberty International Airport |
| Location | Newark, New Jersey |
| Cause | Loss of communication and radar |
| Controllers | Unable to see, hear or talk to planes |
| Controllers' Leave | 5 FAA employees took 45 days of trauma leave |
| Controllers' Staffing | 20% of FAA controllers "walked off the job" |
| Flights Impacted | 15-20 flights impacted |
| Delays | 375 flights delayed |
| Cancellations | 160 flights cancelled |
| Previous Incidents | Similar outages happened twice before |
| Controllers' Response | "We lost our radar so just stay on the arrival and maintain 6,000 (feet)" |
| Controllers' Concerns | Warned of safety issues due to telecommunications outages |
| Controllers' Recommendation | Sending Newark controllers back to Long Island |
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What You'll Learn
Delays and cancellations at Newark Airport
On Monday, travellers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey experienced a week of flight delays and cancellations due to air traffic control issues. Controllers at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, who coordinate flights arriving at Newark, lost radar and communications with aircraft under their control. This resulted in at least 160 cancellations and 375 delays according to FlightAware.
Controllers lost the ability to see planes on radar scopes and were unable to communicate with pilots for at least 90 seconds. Recordings from LiveATC.net captured a United Airlines pilot from New Orleans attempting to radio the controller five times before receiving a response. The controller then asked, "United 1951, how do you hear me?" to which the pilot replied, "I got you loud and clear, United 1951."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects more delays at the airport. The issues have been attributed to a massive staffing shortage, with over 20% of FAA controllers at Newark taking trauma leave or "walking off the job" due to the stressful situation. This compounds the broader shortage of controllers affecting airports across the US. In July, the FAA also relocated about two dozen controllers from the Long Island facility to Philadelphia, creating collaboration issues and safety hazards.
The connectivity between the FAA radar and the frequencies used by controllers to manage planes at Newark Airport "completely failed," according to a source. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, with similar outages happening twice before and being reported to the FAA safety reporting system. The repeated issues have led to renewed scrutiny of the outdated air traffic control system and highlighted the challenges of understaffing.
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Air traffic controllers take trauma leave
On 28 April 2025, air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey lost communication with aircraft, leading to hundreds of delays. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed that the employees took leave under provisions for workers who experience traumatic events at work. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar and the frequencies used by air traffic controllers to manage flights "completely failed". Controllers in the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which coordinates planes arriving at Newark, temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them.
A United Airlines flight from New Orleans to Newark captured the pilot's five radio attempts before getting a response. Later, contact was lost with another United Airlines flight from Charleston, South Carolina, to Newark. The controller instructed the pilot to "stay on arrival and maintain 6,000 (feet)". The same flight returned to the radar but did not show up in the correct position.
The incident resulted in multiple employees taking trauma leave, which further contributed to delays and cancellations at the airport. On Monday, 160 flights were canceled, and 375 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware. The FAA indicated that more delays were expected. The staffing shortage was exacerbated by over 20% of FAA controllers who "walked off the job" at Newark Airport, as stated by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.
The FAA acknowledged that its outdated air traffic control system was affecting its workforce and that it could not quickly replace the controllers on leave. They emphasized their ongoing training of new controllers and their commitment to ensuring safety by adjusting arrival rates when necessary.
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Radar and communications failure
On 28 April 2025, air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey lost radar and radio communications with aircraft for between 30 and 90 seconds. This caused chaos, with hundreds of flights delayed and around 20 cancelled. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operation in Philadelphia, which guides flights into and out of Newark, was left in the dark and unable to see, hear or talk to the aircraft under their control. Controllers told pilots to maintain their altitudes and stay on arrival routes.
Controllers in the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control room lost access to the systems that help them guide planes into Newark. This was caused by a failure in the connectivity between the FAA radar and the frequencies that controllers use to manage flights. Controllers described having "no frequencies" and three of their four radar screens going black.
Controllers at Newark were already dealing with a nationwide staffing shortage, with over 20% of FAA controllers having "walked off the job" at the airport in the preceding week. The FAA has said that it cannot quickly replace the controllers who have left due to the highly specialised nature of the profession. It is instead focusing on training new controllers and slowing the rate of arrivals into the airport when staffing or equipment issues occur.
The radar and communications failure was a sign of the outdated nature of the US air traffic control system. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented that "the technology that we are using is old. That's what is causing the outages and delays we are seeing at Newark". Elon Musk is expected to help improve the system.
The incident left controllers requiring trauma leave, with at least five FAA employees taking 45 days of special government leave for traumatic situations.
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Staffing shortages
Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey have been dealing with significant staffing shortages, leading to substantial delays and disruptions for travellers. This issue has been ongoing for at least a year, with controllers repeatedly warning of critical safety issues due to telecommunications outages and radar failures.
In August, controllers reported a harrowing incident where multiple planes were directed into the same area to avoid thunderstorms, leading to a near "catastrophic mid-air collision". The issue was attributed to the separation of controllers overseeing LaGuardia and Newark airports, hindering their ability to coordinate effectively.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) attempted to address staffing shortages by relocating two dozen controllers from Long Island to Philadelphia, but this change exacerbated collaboration issues and was met with opposition from controllers. The impact of this decision was felt not only by controllers but also by pilots, who faced increased workload and heightened risk of errors.
The situation at Newark Airport is indicative of a broader shortage of controllers affecting airports nationwide. The challenges of hiring air traffic controllers, such as gruelling schedules and age limits, contribute to the staffing crisis. As a result, controllers at Newark Airport have been overworked and overwhelmed, leading to a significant number taking trauma leave to recover from the stress and challenges of their jobs.
The staffing shortages, combined with technological failures, have resulted in a week-long meltdown at Newark Airport, causing frustration and inconvenience for thousands of passengers.
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Controllers raise safety concerns
Air traffic controllers have raised safety concerns about Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, following a week of major delays and cancellations. Controllers have reported issues with radar and radio communications outages, which have resulted in an inability to see or communicate with planes. In one incident, a United Airlines flight from New Orleans to Newark attempted to radio the controller five times before receiving a response. On another occasion, a controller lost radar contact with a flight travelling at hundreds of miles per hour, which then returned to the radar in an incorrect position.
Controllers have also warned of critical safety issues caused by a lack of collaboration between different locations. In July, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) relocated about two dozen controllers from Long Island to Philadelphia, a move that was opposed by some. Within weeks, at least six controllers reported serious safety issues, including an incident in August where controllers in Long Island and Philadelphia rerouted pilots through the same area, leading to a potentially dangerous situation. The controller wrote that only luck had prevented a "catastrophic mid-air collision".
The issues at Newark Airport have been compounded by a nationwide air traffic controller staffing shortage, with over 20% of FAA controllers at the airport "walking off the job" last week. The relocation of controllers and staffing shortages have resulted in delays and cancellations for thousands of customers and controllers taking leave to recover from the stress and trauma of the situation. At least five FAA employees have taken 45 days of trauma leave.
Aviation analyst Miles O'Brien commented that the controllers did what they could with a potentially dangerous situation. Timothy Johnson, a senior assistant professor of aviation at Hampton University, also reviewed the reports and stated that they should have been a "red flag". Johnson emphasised the importance of proximity in maintaining smooth operations and rapid verbal coordination, which was lacking due to the physical distance between the Long Island and Philadelphia sites.
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Frequently asked questions
Yesterday, there were reports of massive delays at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. This was due to a week-long issue where air traffic controllers lost communication with aircraft, leading to hundreds of delays.
The delays were caused by a combination of staffing shortages and technical issues. Controllers lost access to systems that help guide planes into the airport, resulting in a loss of radar and communication capabilities.
Yes, air traffic controllers had previously warned of critical safety issues and telecommunications outages. There were also reports of near mid-air collisions due to coordination issues between different control centres.
Thousands of passengers experienced delays and cancellations. Some passengers had to wait in line for hours, and there were concerns about the potential for errors due to increased pilot workload.
