FAA creates task force to resolve Newark airport communication issues

In May 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the formation of an emergency task force to tackle ongoing communication problems at Newark Liberty International Airport in the United States. This decision followed several incidents where air traffic controllers experienced disruptions in their telecommunications lines. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that the task force would comprise experts from Verizon, L3Harris, and the FAA. Its primary focus will be on adding multiple telecommunications connections to ensure operational redundancy, especially in light of recent outages that led to significant flight delays. Historically, air traffic control operations at Newark have been plagued by infrastructure issues, and recent events intensified concerns about safety and efficiency at the airport. Just weeks prior to the task force's announcement, controllers faced multiple telecommunications outages that compromised their ability to guide incoming and outgoing aircraft, resulting in hundreds of flight delays and increased stress for both airline personnel and travelers. If a backup communication line had not functioned correctly during the most recent outage, the consequences could have been even more catastrophic. In coordination with the task force, the FAA is considering implementing temporary flight reductions in and out of Newark to alleviate the strain on the airport's operations. Secretary Duffy criticized the previous administration for failing to properly address the maintenance and modernization of essential telecommunication infrastructure, especially after a significant restructuring of air traffic control responsibilities. Emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of air travel, he expressed hope for a collaborative effort to identify and rectify the root causes of the communication failures. The situation escalated to a point where several air traffic controllers took time off to recover from the stress, a clear signal of the operational pressures faced at Newark Airport. In response to these challenges, Duffy announced a meeting with all airlines operating out of Newark to discuss potential flight cuts, aiming to create a more manageable schedule that prioritizes safety and efficiency during peak travel periods. As these discussions unfold, the FAA, alongside Verizon and L3Harris, will continue to monitor progress toward enhancing Newark's telecommunication capabilities while ensuring that air travel remains safe for all passengers.