Newark Airport Faces Air Traffic Control Outage During Busy Travel Week

NEWARK, New Jersey — Newark Liberty International Airport experienced another air traffic control outage Friday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The outage, which impacted radar and communication systems, occurred around 3:55 a.m. and lasted approximately 90 seconds.

Audio released from LiveATC.net captured air traffic controllers discussing the outage. One controller told a FedEx pilot, “Our scopes just went black again,” while another warned a private aircraft to maintain altitude until passing Morristown due to the radar failure.

The FAA confirmed a telecommunications outage at the Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which coordinates traffic for Newark, as the cause of the disruption. This incident follows a similar outage last week that led to significant delays and cancellations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the glitch at a press briefing, noting that it was caused by ongoing telecom and software issues. “Everything went back online after the brief outage, and there was no operational impact,” she said.

New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer expressed concerns over the frequent outages. “Travelers have had it with the delays,” he said, highlighting that the constant disruptions are frustrating for passengers. Gottheimer urged the FAA to transfer more air traffic controllers to the area to address staffing shortages.

United Airlines has proactively canceled 35 round-trip flights daily from Newark to mitigate the impacts of the disruption. CEO Scott Kirby stated that recent technology failures have led to dozens of diverted flights and thousands of delayed travel plans. American Airlines also reported disruptions affecting its customers.

As Airlines brace for increased travel during the summer season, the Department of Transportation is actively seeking solutions, including hiring more air traffic controllers. Officials are expected to announce further plans to modernize air traffic control technology this week.

Newark Airport has advised travelers to check flight status prior to arriving at the airport to minimize disruptions amid these ongoing issues.