New audio has brought to light a concerning incident where communication was lost with a plane approaching Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Pilots from United Airlines, who were flying in from New Orleans, attempted to contact air traffic control multiple times—at least five, according to the recordings. However, for about 30 seconds, they received no response at all.
Finally, the controller managed to reach out, asking, “United 1951, how do you hear me?”
The pilot responded, “I made you loud and clear, United 1951.”
At another tense moment, the controller informed a pilot—and this is significant—that radar contact was lost while flying from Charleston, South Carolina, to Newark.
The worker acknowledged, “We lost our radar, so we’ll stay on arrival and maintain 6,000 (feet).”
This audio surfaced as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged that there was indeed a short-lived loss of connection on April 28.
“The main communications line went down, so the backup didn’t kick in, leading to a 30-second blackout of air traffic control,” Duffy explained during an appearance on “Ingraham Angle” late Monday.
“Is the plane crashing? No. They have communication equipment. But this highlights a fragile system that we really need to improve,” he added.
This situation has contributed to numerous delays and cancellations affecting thousands of travelers.
The Federal Aviation Administration has criticized the inadequate number of air traffic controllers and the ongoing issues with runway construction.
United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, pointed out that around 20% of Newark’s controllers have left their positions recently.
“This particular control facility has been plagued by chronic understaffing for years. It’s evident that the FAA is struggling to manage the volume of flights at Newark,” Kirby stated.
On the controller union’s part, they clarified that the absence of some workers was under federal compensation regulations, not resignations.
The FAA echoed this, mentioning that controllers from Philadelphia, who also handle Newark traffic, needed some time to recuperate from recent operational pressures.
