Air traffic controllers for Newark airport briefly lose radar access again

Air traffic controllers at Newark Airport in New Jersey experienced a temporary radar blackout for the second time in a fortnight, raising concerns about the outdated air traffic control system that President Trump aims to revamp. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the radar outage in Philadelphia that guides planes to and from Newark lasted for 90 seconds on Friday morning, similar to the incident on April 28. The initial outage resulted in numerous flight cancellations and delays at Newark Airport, prompting the FAA to reduce traffic for safety reasons. Subsequently, five controllers took trauma leave, exacerbating the existing staffing shortage.

Following the radar failure and disruptions due to ongoing runway construction, the number of flight cancellations and delays in Newark increased. The FAA intends to discuss reducing flight schedules with airlines until staffing and technology issues are resolved. While the cancellations decreased by around 40 departures and arrivals on Friday morning, the total reached 68 cancellations and over 400 delays by day’s end.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed the Newark “glitch” to the same issues as the prior week, emphasizing the necessity of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s multi-billion-dollar plan to modernize the air traffic control system. The upgrade initiative, prompted by recent air incidents, involves installing new high-speed connections and replacing radars nationwide.

Despite the seriousness of radar outages in busy airspaces, Allied Pilots Association spokesman Capt. Dennis Tajer reassured that systems are designed to function effectively in emergencies. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer highlighted the deficiencies in air traffic controller staffing and technology, advocating for urgent repairs to the outdated infrastructure.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer called for immediate action to address the Newark airport issues, emphasizing the urgency of fixing the connection between New York airspace and the Philadelphia control center.