Newark Airport Chaos: Here is what to know
The delays and cancellation continued to increase operations at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said about some air traffic controller spending a vacation after the last power outage.
The turmoil also comes after the United Airlines said during the weekend that it will reduce 35 daily flights from the airport that is not far from New York City.
The average flight delays reached two hours and 41 minutes, for each official.
Here is what to know about the situation:
How did you start delay?
On April 28, air traffic watchers lost a brief communication – for about 90 seconds – with aircraft at Newark Airport.
The control units of the Philadelphia Monitoring Center, who were responsible for monitoring air traffic inside and outside the airport, lost radar and communications with flights. “They were unable to” see, hear, or speak to them, “said the National Air Force Watch Association, according to the New York Times.
Electricity and communication outages delayed hundreds of flights or abolishing them. Three dozens of flights were also transferred on that day.
The situation worsened when air traffic monitors were absent under the Federal Personnel Compensation Act, which allows federal workers who were injured or suffered from a job shock to take leave.
Airlines response
In a message to customers on Friday, the CEO of United Airlines Scott Kirby highlighted the tension between his company and the FAA regarding the efforts of the “Agency Reform” permanently and structurally.
“In the past few days, on more than one occasion, the technology on which the FAA air traffic controls have failed to manage upcoming aircraft and get out of Newark Airport – which led to dozens of flights that have been transferred, and hundreds of late and canceled flights, and worse, thousands of customers who are disrupting travel plans.”
Kirby said that the issues were destroyed when about 20 percent of air traffic controlled at the airport took their absence. Customers warned that New Arrek Airport could not deal with the number of incoming planes issued in the coming weeks and months without adequate employees.
The CEO United said that the airline was looking to reduce the impact of problems in the employment and technology that Newark Airport will have on customers when it was announced that the airline would reduce 35 daily flights to the area.
He said that the company urges the government for years to reduce flights to what specific airports can “deal with it realistic.” Kirby participated that he had recently spoken with Transport Minister Sean Duffy and said he was happy because the Trump administration had a proposal to update the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump administration procedure
Since he took office earlier this year, the Trump administration has sought to reform the FAA old air traffic control system and address the lack of control units.
Duffy previously announced the efforts made and unveiled a program that would employ new control units while motivating them not to leave their positions, despite the previous hats over the period in which they can remain in this role.
In a statement on Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said it is working to ensure that current communication equipment is “more reliable in the New York region.”
The agency said, “Repeated equipment and wireless communications can be stressful for units,” noting that some of those working in Newark have taken a long time “to recover from the stress of multiple modern interruptions.”
The Federal Aviation Administration officials said, while the agency cannot replace the control units that have taken a leave quickly, they continue to train the consoles that will be appointed one day in the Newark region.
Duffy said earlier this week that President Trump will radically transform air traffic “by building” a completely new system that represents the envy of the world. ” Some priorities have made it clear in an interview with Fox News on Monday and suggested more details to appear on Thursday.
The problem of exacerbation of the technology that is outdated
FAA has admitted that its technology systems are old and need to update.
According to the March report from FORBES, 92 percent of the FAA budget is spent on preserving old technologies, including flexible discs.
The 2024 government accounting office report found that FAA “urgently” needs to update “aging systems”, noting that many of the platforms running air traffic were not sustainable. Then FAA decided that 51 of its 138 system was not sustainable due to the outdated technology or products.
“The agency was slow to update the most important and dangerous systems,” the report said, noting that some update efforts will not be completed for six to 13 years.
The Chairman of the Home Transport and Infrastructure Committee, MP Sam Gravs (R-MO), issued a budget reconciliation proposal that allocates $ 15 billion to update air traffic control technology in the Federal Aviation Administration.
Duffy stated that he intends to employ “Supercharge” amid the shortage and direct financing to update the FAA systems.
He said during an interview on Monday that the primary line of the region in Newark had been fixed, but the interruption that showed that the country had a “weak system in place.”
Updated at 11:30 am EST
