Radar went black for air traffic controllers at Newark Airport again

Published: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 4:15 pm

Newark Airport Radar Outage Strikes Again, Sparking Delays and Calls for Action

Newark Liberty International Airport experienced another brief radar outage early Friday morning, causing disruptions to air traffic and raising concerns about the reliability of the air traffic control system. This incident, which occurred around 3:55 a.m. and lasted approximately 90 seconds, mirrored a similar outage just two weeks prior on April 28th.

During the outage, air traffic controllers were unable to see aircraft on their radar screens. Controllers were heard communicating with pilots, including a FedEx plane and a private jet arriving from Cyprus, informing them of the issue and providing instructions to maintain safe altitudes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the outage, attributing it to a telecommunications issue impacting the Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which manages airspace for Newark Airport.

The previous outage, also lasting between 60 and 90 seconds, led to controllers walking off the job, resulting in cascading delays and cancellations over several days. The union representing the air traffic controllers stated that the controllers took absence under the Federal Employees Compensation Act. As of 6 a.m. Friday, the latest outage had already resulted in 27 cancellations and delays.

This latest incident has prompted calls for immediate action. Congressman Josh Gottheimer is scheduled to hold a press conference to address the ongoing air traffic control crisis. This comes as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan for sweeping upgrades to the air traffic control system, including the implementation of fiber, wireless, and satellite technology. The proposed plan, estimated to cost around $15 billion and take three to four years to complete, would require congressional approval. The upgrades would be implemented while the current system remains in use.

BNN's Perspective: While the proposed upgrades to the air traffic control system are undoubtedly necessary, the repeated outages at Newark Airport highlight the urgency of the situation. The government needs to prioritize a swift and effective solution to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel. While the long-term plan is welcome, immediate steps must be taken to address the vulnerabilities in the current system and prevent further disruptions.

Keywords: Newark Airport, radar outage, air traffic control, delays, cancellations, FAA, Philadelphia TRACON, telecommunications outage, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Sean Duffy, air traffic control upgrades, travel disruptions, aviation safety, airport delays, flight cancellations.

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