Brief Radar Outage Hits Newark Airport’s Air Traffic Control, Raising Concerns.
Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the busiest aviation hubs in the United States, experienced a brief radar outage at its air traffic control facility in Philadelphia early Friday morning, marking the latest in a series of technological disruptions to affect the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the outage, which impacted radar displays and communications, occurred just before 4 a.m. and lasted approximately 90 seconds. While the disruption was short-lived, it follows a more severe incident last week that caused significant travel chaos.
In a recorded exchange with the pilot of FedEx flight 1989, an air traffic controller referenced the outage, saying, “FedEx 1989, I’m going to hand you off here, our scopes just went black again.” The controller urged the pilot to raise the issue with their airline, adding, “Try to get some pressure for them to fix this stuff.” The pilot responded sympathetically, replying, “Sorry to hear about that.”
The outage was first reported by ABC News, and the FAA is investigating the cause. Posts on X highlighted growing frustration among travellers and aviation professionals, with some calling for urgent upgrades to the airport’s ageing infrastructure.
Friday’s incident comes on the heels of a more disruptive outage last Monday afternoon, which left controllers unable to communicate with pilots, raising serious safety concerns. That episode caused widespread flight delays and cancellations, with several controllers taking leave due to the stress of the situation. The resulting staff shortages exacerbated travel disruptions for days.
Newark Liberty, a key gateway for transatlantic and domestic flights, has faced recurring challenges with its air traffic control systems. Industry experts warn that such outages, even brief ones, underscore the need for modernised technology to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel.
The FAA has pledged to address the issue and prevent future disruptions. A spokesperson said, “We are working diligently to ensure our systems are robust and reliable, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers.”
This is a developing story, with further updates expected as investigations continue.
