Denver Air Traffic Control Loses Communication with Pilots for Two Minutes

DENVER, Colorado — Pilots flying near Denver International Airport lost communication with air traffic control for approximately two minutes on Monday due to radio transmitter failures, according to officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The outage occurred around 1:50 p.m. when both transmitters covering a specific segment of airspace at the Denver Air Traffic Control Center in Longmont went down, prompting controllers to switch to backup communication frequencies. The FAA stated that the outage lasted about 90 seconds, contrary to earlier reports of six minutes.

Frank McIntosh, deputy chief operating officer at the FAA, explained to members of Congress that air traffic controllers employed emergency procedures allowing them to communicate with the aircraft using a frequency typically reserved for emergencies. They reassured pilots of their safety and directed them to switch to another frequency.

The Denver Air Traffic Control Center oversees a vast airspace that includes Colorado and parts of nearby states such as Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico. It handles an average of 1.8 million aircraft each year, ensuring safe and efficient air traffic management.

Despite the communication breakdown, McIntosh affirmed that all aircraft involved remained safely separated throughout the incident.

This event is part of a troubling trend for the FAA, which has faced increasing scrutiny following several recent mishaps, including a deadly midair collision in January that resulted in 67 fatalities in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the FAA has dealt with multiple outages at facilities, including Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Aviation experts have cited aging equipment and staffing shortages as contributing factors to these failures. “The discussion of aging technology has been around for a long time,” said Chad Kendall, an aviation expert and associate professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “We need a robust response to update these systems.”

In response to these ongoing challenges, the Biden administration announced plans to modernize the air traffic control system, including the replacement of outdated technology.

Senator John Hickenlooper from Colorado also acknowledged constituents’ concerns about air travel safety but reassured them that enhanced collision-avoidance systems are in place, keeping flights safe despite communication outages.

As the investigation into Monday’s incident continues, the FAA remains under pressure to address the systemic issues affecting the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure.