Flight Delays Persist Amid Newark Airport Chaos, Duffy Warns of Nationwide Spread

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey faced significant delays and cancellations on Monday, following a series of technical issues that disrupted air traffic control operations over the weekend. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the problems could affect airports nationwide.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Duffy expressed concern about the state of air travel, stating, “The lights are blinking, the sirens are turning. What you see in Newark is gonna happen in other places across the country.” Despite the disruptions, he reassured the public that flying remains safe.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the latest technical disruption at Newark was caused by a “telecommunications issue” at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Area C facility, which oversees incoming and outgoing flights. On Friday, a similar outage occurred, causing controllers to lose radar and radio contact for approximately 90 seconds.

At least five air traffic controllers at TRACON Area C are currently on 45 days of trauma leave following a significant incident on April 28, when they lost contact with all aircraft while managing 15 to 20 flights. An air traffic controller at the Newark facility commented to NBC News that the situation was “not safe for the flying public.” The disruptions led to thousands of cancellations and delays, some spanning over five hours, impacting Newark, the nation’s 12th busiest airport.

Duffy denied that recent job cuts affecting around 400 FAA staff, initiated by billionaire Elon Musk’s group, contributed to the Newark issues. However, representatives from the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union suggested earlier this year that such layoffs would reduce crucial support for air traffic operations.

The FAA attributed many challenges in Newark to equipment failures and staffing shortages. To address these concerns, Duffy emphasized the need for improvements in digital flight data management, radio systems, and extending the retirement age for air traffic controllers from 56 to 61 years.

Signs of technical issues spreading were apparent on Monday, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experiencing a ground stop that delayed 1,337 flights. Staffing shortages at a control tower in Austin, Texas also led to delays for 145 flights. As travelers continue to face challenges, the FAA announced that Newark would see an average delay of 19 minutes on all flights through 9 p.m.

As the situation evolves, officials are under pressure to ensure safe and efficient air travel across the country.