Airlines facing chaos as Newark air traffic control loses radar and radio contact with flights for over a minute.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently exposed the alleged fragility of the U.S. air traffic control system during a discussion on Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle." The revelation followed a temporary radar and radio outage that took place at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey last week, causing delays and cancellations throughout the airport.
According to a damning report by Bloomberg, air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operation in Philadelphia, responsible for guiding flights to and from Newark, experienced signal loss for nearly 90 seconds on April 28, 2025. Due to the incident, multiple employees were reportedly placed on trauma leave. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association confirmed the incident, stating that the facility suffered a temporary loss of radar and communication with the aircraft under its control.
The union emphasized the commitment and diligence of the employees who serve as air traffic controllers, ensuring that millions of passengers travel safely and efficiently every day. However, Transportation Secretary Duffy indicated that the issue was ignored by the previous administration, resulting in the primary communication line and backup line failing to function properly and causing air traffic controllers to lose contact with air traffic control.
While Duffy denied that plane crashes were likely during the brief incident, he acknowledged the issue as a symptom of a frail system in need of repair. Chaos enveloped the Newark Liberty International Airport in the days following the incident, with hundreds of flights delayed or canceled on April 30 and May 1. This was a consequence of the airport's massive inbound flight delays averaging one hour and 32 minutes, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
Recognizing the need for urgent system overhauls, Duffy vowed to announce plans next week to build an all-new air traffic control system aimed at resolving existing issues and preventing future outages. He argued that the outdated technology in use was responsible for the ongoing developments. If no action is taken, Duffy warned, air traffic control issues of similar caliber would soon start to emerge across the national airspace.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy praised Duffy's efforts but requested immediate intervention in addressing the air traffic control chaos in the Garden State. In a letter to Duffy, Murphy emphasized the importance of prioritizing the region, which boasts the busiest airspace in the nation, and called for immediate attention to staffing levels at the Philadelphia TRACON area and developing a plan to address chronic shortages at the New York TRACON.
Key Points
- Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a temporary radar and radio outage last week, causing widespread delays and cancellations.
- Air traffic controllers in the Federal Aviation Administration operation in Philadelphia temporarily lost contact with aircraft due to signal loss for nearly 90 seconds.
- The event highlighted the frailty of the U.S. air traffic control system, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advocating for its overhaul and modernization.
- Governor Phil Murphy requested immediate intervention to address ongoing air traffic control chaos in New Jersey.
- The FAA, Department of Transportation, and other agencies are working together to address the root causes of recent equipment failures, staffing shortages, and the aftermath of the Newark incident to prevent future disruptions.
- The temporary radar and radio outage that occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey last week was a significant issue within the aviation industry.
- The signal loss experienced by air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration operation in Philadelphia, responsible for guiding flights to and from Newark, lasted nearly 90 seconds on April 28, 2025, placing multiple employees on trauma leave.
- Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy believes that the ongoing air traffic control issues, including the outage at Newark, are indicative of a fragile system in need of renovation, and he plans to announce a solution for building a new air traffic control system next week.
- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is urging immediate action to address the air traffic control chaos in the Garden State, emphasizing the importance of the region's airspace because it is the busiest in the nation.
