Air traffic controller raises safety concerns about Newark Airport

Daily Mail​

21-05-2025

The air traffic controller at the heart of this alarming report works from the Philadelphia facility overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport. Her fears stem from a cascade of recent technical failures that have left planes unmonitored mid-flight. She was the only controller on duty during a May 9 radar blackout that lasted 90 seconds - an incident that left her unable to track four active aircraft. 'It's happening again,' she recalled thinking, describing the moment all flight tracking systems abruptly failed. The trauma of such events has pushed her to take leave and undergo a psychological evaluation.
She recounted another disturbing episode on April 28, when a separate power outage lasted a minute and a half. These lapses are not isolated: she estimates there have been at least a dozen technology-related failures in the past ten months. 'Do I think it's safe to fly from or to the airport?' she wrote. 'Let me put it like this: I deliberately avoid my own airport when booking flights, even if the alternatives are more expensive and less convenient.' Her chilling personal decision underscores a deep distrust in the system she once helped operate.
The controller attributes many of Newark's problems to a controversial move last summer, when operations were shifted from Long Island to Philadelphia's Terminal Radar Approach Control. This change, intended to streamline the region's air traffic management, backfired badly, she claims. 'The relocation... has jeopardized our ability to direct planes at America's second busiest airport,' she explained. Staffing levels plummeted from 30 to 24, while flight volumes remained unchanged. She believes at least 40 trained personnel are needed to safely manage the traffic.
She also criticized the FAA for relying on outdated infrastructure instead of modernizing its systems. According to her, the agency installed underground wiring to feed data from Long Island to Philadelphia, creating 'one big feed relay' that frequently overloads. 'Since the move to Philadelphia, every single one of my coworkers has experienced a technical malfunction or communications failure.' The pattern has left her and her colleagues with little confidence in the reliability of their equipment. . Her account, published in The Times, suggests that systemic issues - not just isolated incidents - are threatening flight safety.
Despite issuing repeated internal concerns, the controller said little has been done to address the risks. Her words were not intended simply to highlight poor working conditions, but to deliver a stark warning. 'If the authorities don't fix this mess immediately, people will pay with their lives.' The statement carries extra weight given her years of experience and her decision to avoid flying from Newark entirely. Her testimonial presents a rare and raw look into the psychological toll of safeguarding America's skies amid a failing system. Newark Liberty, once a trusted hub, now faces a crisis of confidence from within.