Newark air traffic controllers briefly lost contact with planes, union says

Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport briefly lost communications with planes under their control, “unable to see, hear, or talk to them” last week, a union spokesman has said.

The 28 April incident led to multiple employees being placed on trauma leave, contributing to hundreds of delayed or diverted flights. More than 150 flights have been cancelled so far on Monday alone, according to tracking website FlightAware.

The airport, one of New York’s busiest hubs, has been grappling with staff shortages for more than a week.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged in a statement that “our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our work force”.

Confirming the controllers had taken leave following the incident, the FAA said it could “not quickly replace them”.

“We continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace,” the statement said.

Air traffic control operations at the airport have come under sustained criticism recently.

Last week, United Airlines announced it was cancelling 35 flights per day from its Newark schedule because the airport “cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there”.

“In the past few days, on more than one occasion, technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed – resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and cancelled flights,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.

He also said the issues were “compounded” because over 20% of FAA controllers “walked off the job”.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the employees took leave under provisions for workers that experience a traumatic event at work.

The union would not say how many controllers had taken leave, or how long they lost contact with planes for.

The Newark incident comes as the US Department of Transport last week unveiled a package designed to boost the numbers of FAA air traffic controllers.

“The package will allow more of the best and brightest candidates to get into air traffic facilities and on the job faster, as well as increase retention of experienced controllers,” the FAA said.

The transport department said it was on track to hire at least 2,000 controllers this year.

In February, the Trump administration began firing hundreds of FAA employees, weeks after a fatal mid-air plane collision in Washington DC.

The agency said it would continue to hire and onboard air traffic controllers and safety professionals.