Duffy Warns of ‘Frail’ System After Newark Air Traffic Controllers Lost Contact With Planes

Transportation secretary said the main communication line failed and the backup system didn’t engage, resulting in 30-second loss of contact with air traffic.

United Airlines planes land and prepare to take off at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., on Jan. 27, 2025. Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Air traffic controllers overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport lost contact with planes for 30 seconds last week, triggering widespread flight delays and cancellations as staffing shortages and outdated technology strained systems, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

“The primary communication line went down, the backup line didn’t fire, and so for 30 seconds we lost contact with air traffic, Duffy told Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” on Monday. “Now, were planes going to crash? No. They have communication devices. ... But it’s a sign that we have a frail system in place, and it has to be fixed.”

Duffy added that he plans to unveil a proposal Thursday seeking billions of dollars from Congress to overhaul air traffic control infrastructure and staffing.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association on Monday confirmed that controllers in Philadelphia, responsible for Newark’s airspace, temporarily lost radar contact and communications with aircraft on April 28.

Scott Kirby, the chief executive of United Airlines, the carrier that operates the most flights from Newark, emailed customers on Friday to say that 20 percent of the FAA controllers for Newark had walked off the job.

But on Monday, the controllers’ union said the workers did not walk off the job but took absences under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, which provides for absences for injuries or on-the-job trauma.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a Monday post on X that some Philadelphia controllers managing Newark arrivals and departures “have taken time off to recover from the stress of multiple recent outages.”

The FAA said that frequent equipment and telecommunications outages are stressful for controllers to manage. It said it is working to ensure more reliable telecommunications equipment and update automation systems to improve resiliency.

“Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce. As [Duffy] has said, we must get the best safety technology in the hands of controllers as soon as possible,” the FAA said.

The FAA is currently about 3,500 controllers short of its target staffing levels, leading to delays and mandatory overtime. Last year, the FAA shifted control of Newark’s airspace to Philadelphia to address congestion and staffing shortages in the New York City area.

‘Chaotic Week”

United Airlines, Newark’s largest carrier, announced the cancellation of 35 flights per day—about 10 percent of its daily schedule—starting Saturday, following what Kirby described as a “chaotic week” of delays and diversions caused by technology failures.

In his email to customers on Friday, Kirby also wrote, “Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed—resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans.”

In his letter, Kirby urged the government to designate Newark as a slot-controlled, Level 3 airport to limit flights to what the airport can handle.

“By using the authority it has, the FAA can help Newark fulfill its incredible potential to be a safe, reliable and efficient gateway to the world for the American traveling public,” Kirby said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News