Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), one of the nation’s busiest aviation hubs, is undergoing urgent changes to its air traffic control systems following a critical radar and radio outage on April 28, 2025, that disrupted operations for over a week. The incident, which left air traffic controllers unable to see or communicate with aircraft for approximately 60 to 90 seconds, exposed vulnerabilities in the airport’s aging infrastructure and triggered widespread flight delays, cancellations, and renewed scrutiny of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Last week Monday, air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages Newark’s airspace, experienced a complete loss of radar and radio communication with aircraft under their control. The outage, attributed to a failure in a single data feed—a copper wire connection described by one source as “a long extension cord”—affected 15 to 20 flights in the congested New York metro airspace. Audio recordings from LiveATC.net captured the tense moments, with a controller informing pilots, “Approach lost all the radars. Three of the four radar screens went black, and they have no frequency.”
The blackout, lasting roughly 60 to 90 seconds, forced a ground stop at Newark, halting all departures and diverting incoming flights to alternate airports. United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, diverted over 35 flights on April 28 alone. The operational fallout persisted, with over 358 departures canceled between April 28 and May 6, and on-time performance dropping from 80% to 63%, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. By May 5, Newark ranked as the world’s top airport for delays and cancellations.
The incident’s psychological toll was significant. Several controllers at Philadelphia TRACON took medical leave under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, citing trauma from the event. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) emphasized that controllers did not “walk off the job” but were entitled to leave due to the stressful nature of the outage. This absence exacerbated existing staffing shortages, further straining operations.
The outage highlighted long-standing issues with the FAA’s air traffic control infrastructure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the system as “incredibly old,” relying on “floppy disks” and “copper wires” ill-equipped to handle modern air traffic demands. The data feed failure stemmed from a lack of redundancy in the telecommunications line connecting radar systems in Westbury, New York, to the Philadelphia TRACON, which assumed control of Newark’s airspace in July 2024. Previous outages, including three unreported radar failures on September 2, 2024, and a full radar outage on August 27, 2024, underscored the system’s fragility.
Staffing shortages at Philadelphia TRACON compounded the crisis. The FAA reported that 20% of controllers called out of work following the April 28 incident, citing trauma and frustration with recurring equipment failures. Newark’s airspace requires specialized certification, preventing the immediate reassignment of controllers from other regions. The FAA has acknowledged a nationwide shortage of approximately 3,000 controllers, a problem exacerbated by mandatory retirement at age 56 and lengthy training periods for new hires.
In response, the FAA is implementing immediate and long-term measures to stabilize operations at Newark. On May 6, the agency announced plans to bring in air traffic control supervisors from across the country to bolster staffing at Philadelphia TRACON. The FAA is also working to establish “a more resilient and redundant configuration” for telecommunications equipment in the New York area, prioritizing upgrades to prevent future outages.
Transportation Secretary Duffy, speaking on Fox News, outlined a broader modernization plan, stating, “The President and I are going to radically transform air traffic control. That means building a brand new system that is the envy of the world.” The Department of Transportation is set to announce a comprehensive strategy for infrastructure upgrades on May 8, addressing outdated radars, telecommunications, and automation systems.
United Airlines, citing safety concerns, unilaterally reduced its Newark schedule by 35 round-trip flights per day starting May 3, approximately 10% of its daily operations. CEO Scott Kirby emphasized, “We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.” The airline has issued travel waivers allowing passengers to reschedule flights between May 6 and May 17 without fees.
The outage has prompted outrage from elected officials. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote to Secretary Duffy, urging prioritization of equipment upgrades for the nation’s busiest airspace. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a Department of Transportation inspector general investigation, describing the FAA’s challenges as “a mess.” Representative Josh Gottheimer demanded emergency funding to address staffing and infrastructure issues, noting that controllers are “overworked” and “under immense pressure.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark, highlighted its $121 million runway rehabilitation project, set to conclude by June 15, as a factor in delays but stressed that the FAA’s technological and staffing issues are the primary drivers. Poor weather in the New York metro area has also contributed to disruptions.
Experts warn that Newark’s challenges may persist. Michael McCormick, a professor of Air Traffic Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, noted that a 90-second radar blackout is “a long time” in air traffic control, underscoring the need for robust backup systems. The FAA’s modernization efforts, while promising, face hurdles due to the complexity of overhauling a nationwide system and training new controllers, a process that can take years.
Travelers continue to face significant disruptions. On May 7, FlightAware reported 46 cancellations and 145 delays by mid-morning, with inbound flights delayed by an average of 161 minutes. The FAA maintains that safety remains the priority, slowing arrival rates to manage the constrained system.
As Newark Airport navigates this crisis, the FAA’s commitment to modernization and staffing improvements offers hope for a more reliable future. However, for passengers and airlines, the path to stability remains turbulent.