Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport have faced increasing delays and cancellations, a situation made worse by a wave of air traffic controllers taking extended “trauma leave” following a series of equipment malfunctions, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The New York Post reports, at least five controllers have taken up to 45 days off under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, which allows federal workers to recover from on-the-job trauma while still receiving their full salary, CNN’s aviation correspondent reported.
The FAA acknowledged on Monday that repeated equipment and telecommunications failures have placed significant stress on controllers.
“Frequent equipment and telecommunications outages can be stressful for controllers,” the FAA said Monday, noting that “some controllers at the Philadelphia TRACON network who work Newark arrivals and departures have taken time off to recover from the stress of multiple recent outages.”
The agency also noted that replacing these highly specialized professionals is not a quick process, but training is underway for new personnel to handle the busy airspace.
This temporary shortage of qualified controllers has led to major operational disruptions at Newark, with United Airlines among the carriers forced to cancel numerous flights amid the ongoing turmoil. The circumstances at the airport in recent days can be described as chaotic to say the least.
United Airlines’ CEO has previously criticized the situation, pointing out that around 20% of the FAA staff responsible for Newark flights have taken leave due to the equipment issues. He described the controllers as “walking off the job” in response to the repeated outages.
Adding to the chaos, a source told The Post that a damaged copper wire caused a 90-second radar and communications blackout last week, “triggering a cascade of delays and cancellations” at the New Jersey airport.
According to the Wall Street Journal, in late April, air traffic controllers overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport suddenly faced a crisis. Without warning, they lost all communication with pilots in their airspace. The radar screens, typically filled with aircraft positions, went completely dark. To make matters worse, the backup systems also failed, forcing incoming flights to circle in holding patterns while controllers scrambled to regain control.
This alarming incident highlights the vulnerabilities in the nation’s air-traffic control infrastructure. With aging technology and increasing air traffic, experts warn that such disruptions could become more common unless significant upgrades are made. The scary situation has intensified calls for modernizing the system to ensure safety and reliability for both passengers and crew.
