By: Jordan Baker

As first reported by the New York Post, nearly 80 flights were cancelled, and more than 60 were delayed at Newark Liberty International Airport after yet another equipment outage caused massive disruptions to the airport’s operations. The situation became even more chaotic on Sunday morning, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a 45-minute ground stop, halting nearly all incoming flights.

According to the New York Post, the problem stemmed from an outage at Newark’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility, which is managed by the Philadelphia-based TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control). The FAA quickly responded, announcing that technicians were working to resolve the issue. However, it didn’t take long before another similar outage hit a major airport — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the busiest airport in the United States. As the Post reported, a “runway equipment issue” at Atlanta led to significant delays and another ground stop for flights arriving at the hub.

The New York Post first reported that this round of delays was triggered when a telecommunications issue in the Philadelphia TRACON area disrupted air traffic control for both Newark and Atlanta airports. Although the problem led to delays, the FAA confirmed that no flights were diverted from the airports at that time. Still, passengers experienced significant frustration as both airports struggled to maintain smooth operations in the wake of these outages.

These disruptions at Newark follow a similar radar malfunction that grounded flights just days earlier. On Friday morning, as the Post initially reported, a 90-second radar and radio outage at the TRACON facility halted operations temporarily. This incident was particularly concerning after a similar radar issue on April 28 that led to five air traffic controllers taking leave due to stress, according to the New York Post. The incident highlighted ongoing staff shortages, with some controllers granted leave for up to 45 days, contributing to a backlog of over 1,000 cancelled flights.

The New York Post also covered new efforts by the U.S. Department of Transportation to address the ongoing staffing crisis. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed during an interview that, to mitigate these disruptions, the number of flights in and out of Newark would be reduced in the coming weeks. This decision follows the Post’s report on growing concerns about air traffic control infrastructure at the airport, which has been relying on outdated technology.

“We want to have a number of flights that, when you book them, you know they’re going to fly,” Duffy explained to the New York Post. He further stressed that a meeting would be convened with all airlines operating at Newark to determine how to reduce capacity without further complicating travel plans.

While the New York Post reported that these delays have frustrated passengers and airlines alike, Duffy reassured the public that it remains safe to fly out of Newark despite its aging system. “We’re building a new line from Newark to the Philadelphia TRACON to help address this,” he told the Post. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer, he added.

To help address the staffing shortages, Duffy confirmed that new air traffic controllers will be offered a 20% up-front bonus as an incentive to join the workforce. As the Post reported, these measures are part of a broader effort to stabilize air traffic control systems, not just at Newark, but across the U.S. airspace.