Last week, there was a bit of a hiccup in the communication system at Newark Liberty International Airport. Apparently, the air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilots they were guiding into the airport. And guess what? This isn’t the first time it’s happened. According to a veteran controller, this has occurred at least two other times since August. In fact, in recent months, it’s happened about eight or nine times. That’s a lot of radio silence when you’re trying to land planes at one of the busiest airports in the country.
One Newark airspace controller spilled the beans on the situation, mentioning how they lost all radios and had no backups. Everything just went kaput. The Federal Aviation Administration didn’t have much to say about the claims, though. Typical.
Not too long ago, controllers in Area C of the Philadelphia TRACON also lost all communication with pilots heading to Newark. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy downplayed the incident, saying the contact was lost for only 30 seconds. But now, they’re saying it was more like 90 seconds. That’s a pretty big difference, don’t you think?
Senator Chuck Schumer chimed in, expressing relief that nothing bad happened but warning that changes need to be made. I mean, 90 seconds of chaos in the skies is no joke. It’s like a scene out of a movie, except it’s real life.
Despite the scare, recordings from LiveATC.net revealed how the controllers and pilots managed to navigate through the crisis. It’s pretty intense to hear the back-and-forth between them as they try to figure things out. The brave pilot remained calm throughout the ordeal, which probably helped keep things under control.
The whistleblowing controller shared that it felt like forever trying to get all those planes safely on the ground without proper communication. It was a pretty scary moment, to say the least. The fear and panic only set in after the crisis was averted.
The aftermath of the communication breakdown lingered at Newark Airport, causing delays for travelers. Flights were delayed by more than four hours, and United Airlines had to cancel a bunch of flights. It’s chaos in the skies, people.
Apparently, the air traffic controllers are struggling to keep up because some of their colleagues are on a 45-day leave due to stress. And replacing them isn’t as easy as snapping your fingers. It takes time to train new controllers, and the whole process can drag on for about a year and a half.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pointed out that the Philadelphia TRACON has been understaffed for years. And with the current situation, it’s clear that Newark Airport can’t handle the incoming traffic. The shortage of air traffic controllers is a nationwide issue, according to Transportation Secretary Duffy. They’re working on a strategy to attract more people to the field, but it’s not an overnight fix.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy added his two cents, blaming decades of neglect for the fragile state of the air traffic control system. It’s a mess, but they’re trying to sort it out. For now, they’re slowing down arrivals at Newark until they can get enough controllers on board.
The FAA is promising to keep the public updated on the situation, directing folks to their website for more info. Let’s hope they figure things out soon because we can’t have planes flying blind over one of the busiest airports in the country. That’s just asking for trouble.
