Writer

Amy Wilder

A system outage on April 28 left air traffic controllers unable to see or communicate with aircraft arriving into Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) for more than a minute, contributing to widespread delays, staffing gaps, and a reduced flight schedule at the busy New Jersey hub.
The 90-second lapse in radar and radio contact occurred at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (Tracon) facility, which manages arrivals and departures at Newark. The disruption was reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-05/newark-radar-loss-left-controllers-guiding-blind-for-90-seconds?srnd=all">Bloomberg</a>, citing anonymous sources familiar with the incident, and later confirmed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and FAA. Multiple controllers were placed on trauma leave following the blackout, leaving the facility short-staffed during a week of cascading delays.
Yesterday, NATCA confirmed the incident, saying the facility “temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them.”
The FAA released a statement about the outage, attributing the disruption to “antiquated” telecommunications infrastructure and describing ongoing efforts to create a more “resilient and redundant configuration with local exchange carriers.” The FAA statement referenced multiple outages, but did not specify additional dates.
“Frequent equipment and telecommunications outages can be stressful for controllers,” the agency noted, adding that some controllers had taken time off to recover from the cumulative strain of multiple recent outages.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who visited the Philadelphia Tracon alongside NATCA president Nick Daniels, has pledged upgrades to the agency’s equipment and automation systems. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-05-01/new-faa-natca-deal-adds-bonuses-bolster-atc-ranks">In a post to X,</a> Duffy warned that similar outages could occur nationwide without urgent modernization. He has also <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-05-01/new-faa-natca-deal-adds-bonuses-bolster-atc-ranks">unveiled new hiring incentives </a>to address the agency’s shortage of qualified controllers.
The system disruptions and subsequent reduction in available staff have caused a ripple effect across the Northeast airspace. According to Bloomberg, United Airlines cut 35 daily round-trip flights at Newark in response. Flight operations into nearby airports, including Teterboro (KTEB), <a href="https://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp?legacy=true">were also affected</a>.
Industry associations have repeatedly warned that aging ATC infrastructure and understaffing pose growing risks to the National Airspace System. A 2023 FAA internal assessment found that more than three-quarters of ATC systems were “unsustainable or potentially unsustainable.”

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Newark ATC Failures Led to Need for Controller Trauma Leave, FAA Says

Agency reiterates need for tech upgrades after Newark failures

FAA confirmed a 90-second loss of radar and radio at Newark International Airport on April 28. NATCA says controllers couldn’t see or communicate with aircraft.

FAA: Newark ATC Failures Prompt Controller Trauma Leave

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Predictive engine designed to support tower situational awareness

NoamAI Launches Artificial Intelligence ATC Assistant

Hanneke Weitering

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Anra Technologies is ready to launch U-space services across Europe

EASA Certifies First U-space ATM Service Provider For Uncrewed Aircraft

NATCA calls new pact “a meaningful step” toward solving controller shortage

New FAA-NATCA Deal Adds Bonuses To Bolster ATC Ranks

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

More In ATC

NoamAI Launches Artificial Intelligence ATC Assistant

Predictive engine designed to support tower situational awareness

EASA Certifies First U-space ATM Service Provider For Uncrewed Aircraft

Anra Technologies is ready to launch U-space services across Europe

New FAA-NATCA Deal Adds Bonuses To Bolster ATC Ranks

NATCA calls new pact “a meaningful step” toward solving controller shortage

WWII-era North Atlantic Blue Spruce Routes Removed

Blue Spruce involved airspace between Iceland and Greenland

Lawmakers Challenge FAA’s Starlink Consideration

Reps Moulton, Larsen, and Cohen requested information about potential changes to the FAA Enterprise Network Services program

FAA’s Potential Pivot to Starlink Questioned

Satellite technology faces scrutiny for critical safety systems

DOT Secretary Announces Plan To Supercharge ATC Hiring

Aviation organizations have expressed resounding support for the initiative

U.S. Aviation Groups Unite To Oppose ATC Privatization

Industry groups expressed concern about spate of recent accidents

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN