I(AP) The flight problems at New Jersey’s biggest airport this spring could happen anywhere in the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is asking Congress to approve his plan to update the country’s air traffic control system. The plan will cost “tens of billions” of dollars.

On Wednesday, Duffy gave an update on efforts to fix the problems at Newark Liberty International Airport. The airport has been running more smoothly recently after airlines reduced the number of flights.

Duffy said the Newark issues show why the old air traffic system needs fixing.

“I’m worried we could have more situations like Newark,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to start this project with the funds Congress gives us.”

He did not give a final cost for the overhaul but said the $12.5 billion in the House bill won’t be enough. He expects the total cost to be in the tens of billions.

Since revealing the plan, Duffy has met privately with lawmakers. He wants Congress to work out the funding details on their own.

Problems at Newark Airport Improve

The flight delays and cancellations at Newark have gotten better since the FAA limited flights to match the number of available air traffic controllers. The Philadelphia facility that controls Newark lost five controllers to trauma leave after an outage on April 28, and another controller is on medical leave.

That left only 16 certified controllers and five supervisors on duty. But 16 experienced controllers are in training and may be certified by October.

The FAA is about 3,000 controllers short nationwide. Duffy is speeding up hiring and training and offering incentives to keep controllers from retiring early.

The FAA expects to increase Newark flights to 34 arrivals and 34 departures daily after runway work finishes in mid-June. Some controllers on trauma leave may return by then. Flight limits will be reviewed in October as more controllers complete training.

FAA Upgrades and Telecom Fixes

After a second radar outage on May 9, the FAA upgraded the air traffic control software, which helped avoid further issues on May 11.

The FAA is fixing telecom problems too. Verizon installed a new fiber optic line between Philadelphia and New York last month. The FAA plans to test it thoroughly before switching over, likely in July. They also plan to improve lines between New York and Newark since some still use copper wires.

“Something wasn’t working right during the outages,” said acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “We’re focused on adding backups and tools to keep the system safe.”

Pilots Should Prepare for Possible Outages

Duffy says pilots should review procedures for handling outages because they can happen. Besides Newark’s issues, controllers in Denver lost radio contact briefly this month. There were also other Newark outages last year that didn’t get much attention.

“We need to be ready for brief outages,” Duffy said. “There are many backups and rules to keep people safe when these happen.”