Last week, Newark Liberty International Airport faced significant disruptions after air traffic controllers temporarily lost communication with aircraft in and out of the airport due to a malfunction in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) equipment. This incident, which occurred last Monday, led to a ground stop and has caused ongoing delays and cancellations for several airlines, including United. The specific nature of the malfunction has not been disclosed by the FAA.
During the communication loss, controllers at the Philadelphia TRACON, which manages flights to and from Newark, were unable to communicate with pilots, complicating the crucial task of separating and sequencing aircraft. Reports indicate that the duration of this communication failure remains unclear, but it prompted several controllers to take leave under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, a provision for federal employees facing job-related traumatic incidents.
In the aftermath, Newark airport experienced a surge in delays and cancellations. On one Monday alone, over 300 flights were delayed, and more than 150 were cancelled. Numerous factors, including technical failures, construction, and ongoing understaffing at the Philadelphia TRACON, have compounded the operational issues. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby highlighted the long-term staffing shortages at TRACON, indicating that this has affected Newark’s capacity to handle the flight schedule.
Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of communication and support from airline staff, with some facing extensive delays and cancelled flights as they sought to connect to other destinations. The FAA has yet to respond to requests for further comment. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is reportedly working on plans to address the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, which currently stands at around 3,000 vacant positions.
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