Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing significant operational problems recently due to a combination of radar outages, air traffic controller shortages, and ongoing runway construction. On April 28, a primary telecommunications line failed at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility that manages Newark's airspace, causing a loss of radar and radio contact with planes for about 90 seconds. A backup system also failed to activate immediately, leaving controllers unable to track or communicate with aircraft during a busy period. Similar outages occurred again on May 9 and another unspecified outage on a Sunday, creating severe safety concerns and stress among controllers, with several taking trauma leave as a result
. The staffing shortage is acute: Newark's TRACON currently employs only 22 certified controllers, far below the target of 38. This shortage, combined with the technical failures and runway construction, has forced the FAA to limit the number of flights arriving and departing Newark to maintain safety, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations. At times, only three controllers were on duty when 14 were needed, leading to flight halts and delays averaging over 100 minutes, with some lasting nearly seven hours
. FAA officials are working on both short-term fixes, such as technical repairs and flight reductions, and longer-term solutions including upgrading telecommunications infrastructure and increasing controller staffing. Meetings with airlines are ongoing to manage flight schedules until staffing and construction improve, expected by mid-June
. Despite these challenges, no accidents have occurred, and officials maintain that flying remains safe. However, the situation has highlighted systemic issues in U.S. air traffic control, including aging equipment and workforce shortages, which have placed significant strain on controllers and airport operations
