Last week, Newark Liberty International Airport faced a 90-second blackout in radar and communication systems for air traffic controllers, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Following the incident on April 28, many controllers at the Philadelphia-based center have taken trauma leave, as reported by the National Federation of Air Traffic Controllers.
United Airlines has indicated that about 20% of FAA workers have been absent due to these equipment failures, highlighting significant delays at the airport, which is the second busiest in the New York area.
“Air traffic controllers in Area C of Philadelphia Tracon, responsible for managing aircraft around Newark Airport, were temporarily unable to communicate or receive radar signals,” they stated on Monday.
At least five employees have taken leave under federal employee compensation laws, according to CNN.
Since Friday, Newark Airport has reported over 400 canceled flights and nearly 2,000 delays.
During a press conference on Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for a comprehensive investigation into the issues facing airports that served 49 million travelers last year.
“The technology is outdated and needs an upgrade. It’s puzzling that we’re still using copper wire in 2025—why not fiber optics?” Schumer remarked.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has also commented on the long-standing delays at Newark Airport, attributing them to an aging air traffic management system.
“We still use floppy disks and copper wires,” he noted. “The systems we rely on are not suited for today’s air traffic.”
In a letter to clients, United’s CEO Scott Kirby mentioned that the air traffic control operations at Newark, which were relocated to Philadelphia last summer, are “chronically understaffed,” attributing many of the delays to technical issues.
He also revealed that United has eliminated 35 round-trip flights daily from its schedule, indicating that 20% of the air traffic controllers at Newark have reported being “away from work” due to these failures.
