Air traffic control issues at Newark airport prompt urgent funding call from officials
- Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a significant air traffic control equipment malfunction that led to a 45-minute ground stop on May 11, 2025.
- This event follows a series of disturbances at the airport, including a previous outage that occurred just days before, causing delays and cancelled flights.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called for Congress to allocate funds to modernize the air traffic control system in light of these ongoing issues.
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport in the United States experienced severe air traffic control disruptions due to an equipment malfunction. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a ground stop was initiated for about 45 minutes, affecting flights scheduled to depart for Newark. This incident follows a series of recent issues at the airport, including a significant telecommunications outage earlier that Friday morning which left controllers at a nearby facility for Philadelphia temporarily unable to communicate with aircraft, leading to widespread operational delays. The ongoing problems seem to stem from reliance on aging technology within the air traffic control system, although the specific nature of the telecommunications issue causing this recent disruption has yet to be disclosed publicly. The FAA acknowledged the incident and stated that they slowed operations for safety while implementing redundancy measures. By 11 a.m. EDT, normal operations had reportedly resumed. Furthermore, this incident marks a continuing trend of technical glitches affecting Newark Airport in the past few weeks. On April 28, controllers similarly experienced a disconnection of radar and communications for a brief period, which halted departures to Newark. In the aftermath of that event, significant trauma led to several controllers taking medical leave, exacerbating an already strained workforce. The ripple effects have resulted in hundreds of delays and cancellations spanning more than a week. In light of these issues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has emphasized the need for Congressional support to fund a major overhaul of the air traffic control system. Duffy's plan includes building an entirely new air traffic management system over the next few years—an ambitious goal that highlights the urgent need for modernization in response to ongoing pressures on an old network that he claims poses a safety risk. The FAA is currently working on upgrading systems and implementing plans that could improve the situation, but these measures might take time to finalize and come into effect, keeping pressure on air traffic operations at Newark and beyond.