Newark Airport delays, cancellations continue
NEWARK, N.J. — The National Air Traffic Controllers Association issued a statement on Monday 05, 05, 2025, confirming that air traffic controllers who direct Newark’s air traffic temporarily lost radar and communications with all aircraft on April 28.
For approximately 90 seconds, they were unable to see, hear, or speak with any aircraft.
As a result of the trauma, several air traffic controllers took a leave of absence, further exacerbating a nationwide staffing shortage.
Newark International Airport has been experiencing delays and cancellations in recent days, due to a combination of FAA staffing shortages and equipment failure.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said the FAA relies on antiquated technology, including copper wires and floppy disks.
“One of the things that happened in Newark is that a copper wire burnt,” said Schumer. “Why are we using copper wire in 2025? Have they heard of fiber?”
Schumer is now calling for a full federal investigation into the issues at EWR.
“I’ve asked the Office of the Inspector General to thoroughly investigate what’s going on in Newark and on the East Coast so these problems don’t get worse and spread all across the nation,” said Schumer.
Travelers at EWR did not feel comfortable flying on Monday. “I don’t feel safe at all,” said Rebecca Dunlap, who is traveling home to Portugal. “I’m really quite upset and quite distressed, to tell you the truth. I want to go home.”
“Today, we’re already delayed four hours,” said Joshua Carpenter, who was flying from Newark to Indiana. “I’ve never experienced the delays we’ve had.”
PIX11 News reached out to the FAA for comment, but we have not yet heard back. We also reached out to the major airlines to ask if they would waive change fees for customers who no longer feel comfortable flying through Newark.
A source at Delta Airlines said its delays are minimal. American Airlines did not respond to our request for comment.
United announced Monday that flights to and from Newark through May 17th can be changed without penalty to reroute through LGA or Philadelphia.
The controllers in Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which coordinates planes arriving at Newark, “temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them,” on Monday April 28, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement.
The connectivity between Federal Aviation Administration radar and the frequencies that air traffic controllers use to manage planes flying in and out of the airport “completely failed,” a source with knowledge of the situation said.
