90-Second Radar Blackout Triggers Days of Newark Delays; FAA, Duffy Push ATC Overhaul

A radar and radio failure on 28 April left air-traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport unable to see or communicate with arriving aircraft for up to 90 seconds, triggering an emergency hand-off to pilots and nearby towers at one of the nation’s busiest hubs.

The transient blackout—said by a veteran controller to be the third such incident since August—prompted several controllers to take trauma leave, magnifying an existing staffing shortfall. The Federal Aviation Administration reports hundreds of flights have been delayed, canceled or diverted during nine straight days of disruption, including nearly 100 outbound flights between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on 6 May alone.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association warns that Newark’s aging equipment and reduced staffing pose a systemic safety risk. Recent near-misses elsewhere have heightened scrutiny of the U.S. air-traffic network, which relies on technology some officials describe as antiquated.

In response, the FAA has accelerated hardware fixes in Newark, temporarily capped flight volumes and redeployed personnel from other facilities. The agency is also working with airlines on schedule cuts designed to ease congestion as the busy summer season approaches.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will unveil a multi-billion-dollar modernization plan on 8 May, including a new digital communications system he hopes to have operational by summer. Chief executives of major U.S. carriers have signaled support for spending “tens of billions” on the overhaul, while President Donald Trump vowed this week to “fix” the air-traffic-control system. Lawmakers are pressing the FAA for answers as travelers brace for further delays.