Air Traffic Control Failure Near Newark Sparks Flight Chaos and Renewed Safety Concerns

A serious radar and communication failure at an FAA air traffic control facility in Philadelphia briefly left controllers unable to see or communicate with aircraft approaching Newark Liberty International Airport. The April 28 outage lasted nearly 90 seconds, causing significant disruption and raising renewed concerns about aging infrastructure and chronic staffing shortages within the FAA.

In the aftermath, multiple air traffic controllers were placed on trauma leave, and major airlines, including United and Delta, were forced to cancel flights due to the resulting bottlenecks. United alone cut 35 daily round trips from Newark, its largest hub for international travel. The FAA has since confirmed the incident and acknowledged stress-related effects on its personnel, noting that it cannot quickly replace trained controllers due to the specialized nature of the role.

The outage highlights persistent issues at the FAA’s Philadelphia facility, which now manages Newark’s traffic following a controversial 2023 realignment. With 76% of FAA systems rated unsustainable or nearing obsolescence, and more than 3,000 controller positions unfilled, aviation safety experts and government watchdogs are calling for urgent reforms.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and NATCA President Nick Daniels have pledged improvements, with Duffy promising a forthcoming plan to upgrade infrastructure and accelerate hiring. As aviation demand surges, the pressure is mounting on federal agencies to act decisively before a technical failure results in tragedy.