NEWARK, N.J.—Flight delays and cancellations persisted at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday, and the Federal Aviation Administration says some air traffic controllers were taking time off to destress from recent equipment and telecommunications outages.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation into the “chaos” sparked by an air traffic controller shortage and thick cloud cover.
Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he wants an inspector general’s investigation into the delays and cancellations to prevent them from getting worse or spreading. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy called the delays “completely and utterly unacceptable” in a post on X, and said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is “committed” to hiring more air traffic controllers.
The delays at the busy airport outside New York City made headlines over the weekend as United Airlines said it was cutting 35 daily flights from its schedule.
As of Monday, the FAA attributed arriving flight delays of nearly four hours to a combination of staffing and cloud cover.
What’s Behind the Delays at Newark?
The airport faced disruptions last week as well.
United CEO Scott Kirby said in a letter to customers over the weekend that the technology used to manage planes at the New Jersey airport failed more than once in recent days.
The flight delays, cancellations and diversions that the equipment problems caused were compounded when more than one-fifth of Newark’s traffic controllers “walked off the job,” he said.
The FAA issued a statement Monday saying some controllers who work on flight arrivals and departures from Newark have taken time off to recover from stress associated with recent outages.
“Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce,” the FAA said.
Faulting the Federal Aviation Administration’s alleged failure to address “long-simmering” challenges related to the air-traffic control system, United Airlines cut 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule starting Saturday.
What’s the Broader Issue With Air Traffic Control?
The Trump administration has said an “obsolete” air traffic control system needs to be fixed.The administration says it’s been trying to “supercharge” the air traffic controller workforce and address the nation’s shortage of controllers. Duffy last week announced a program to recruit new controllers and give existing ones incentives not to retire.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a workers’ union, said at the time that those moves could help address staffing shortages, but it also said the system is “long overdue for technology and infrastructure upgrades.”
United flies to 76 U.S. cities and 81 international destinations from Newark.
