Dozens of flights remain cancelled at one of America’s busiest airports - Newark Liberty International - after air traffic controllers were left blind for more than a minute last week, losing both radar and radio communication.
For the past week - and on more than one occasion - the technology that FAA air traffic controllers relied on to manage the airplanes at Newark failed - resulting in diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and cancelled flights and thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans.
“Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,” MSNBC correspondent Tom Costello was told by an air traffic controller.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the issues are caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers.
The FAA has not commented officially on the nature of the staffing problems, though staffing has been listed by the FAA as the cause of delays which have led to United Airlines having to cancel more than 100 flights and divert 37 others.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby issued a message to the airline’s customers on 3 May, saying it had been lobbying the government for years to limit the number of flights the airport could realistically handle.
Kirby said he spoke with Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about what could be done.
“We’re pleased that the new administration has put together a proposal for a large, system-wide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing,” Kirby said.
“In the medium to long term, it’s the only way to solve the system-wide problem.
“Now, we’re encouraging them to apply this decisive leadership to the difficult situation they inherited at Newark, too – by designating it as a slot controlled, Level 3 airport.”
