Latest news with #InternationalAirport
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Air traffic controller says its ‘safe to fly' but ‘avoid Newark'
Veteran air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart affirmed to the public during a recent television appearance that it is 'safe to fly,' but added that he would avoid the embattled Newark Liberty International Airport. 'It's safe to fly. I would probably avoid Newark until something else is done,' Stewart, a supervisory air traffic controller, said during his Friday night appearance on NewsNation's 'Elizabeth Vargas Reports.' Stewart's remarks come as the New Jersey airport has dealt with communication blackouts and ongoing staff shortages, prompting concerns from travelers and public officials. The airport, one of the largest near New York City, had at least two radar outages this month, shining a spotlight on outdated technology, and has a deficit of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that 16 new air traffic controllers were placed in training to boost staffing figures. The workers were moved to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), where Newark airport's operations are situated. Additionally, he said a new runway would be opened at the airport soon to combat congestion. 'The concrete has been laid. I think they're just striping. They are just striping right now,' Duffy told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. 'We have a target date of June 15 of bringing the runway online.' The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said earlier this month it would slash the number of flights coming in and taking off from Newark to help reduce congestion and prevent delays. Until the construction of Runway 4-Left/22-Right is completed, the number of arrivals and departures will be limited to 28 per hour. President Trump and Duffy have vowed to overhaul the FAA, including launching a new program to promote the recruitment and retention of air traffic controllers and investing in more modern technology. Stewart outlined the stress and the responsibilities that air traffic controllers deal with daily while on the job and detailed a near incident on May 4 where two planes nearly collided. 'So, what led to that incident was basically fatigue in general, and that was due to a lack of staffing,' the air traffic controller said on Friday. 'I was using a combination of non-radar and radar rules, which is a completely different way of doing things than I'm used to doing normally.' Stewart noted that because he knew the radar would eventually go out — though he did not know the exact timing — he started writing down planes' flight data and call signs 'It's like knowing you're going to get into a car wreck. You just don't know when, so you better keep your seatbelt on just to, you know, be safe,' Steward told host Elizabeth Vargas. The air traffic controller said the FAA does not need more managers, but more leadership from the 'top.' 'So, there's an old saying to the military, which is, 'lead, follow or get out of the way.'' Stewart said. 'So, somebody needs to do something.' His words come after Duffy also admitted that he once changed his wife's ticket to avoid Newark — citing delays, not safety issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Air traffic controller says its ‘safe to fly' but ‘avoid Newark'
Veteran air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart affirmed to the public during a recent television appearance that it is 'safe to fly,' but added that he would avoid the embattled Newark Liberty International Airport. 'It's safe to fly. I would probably avoid Newark until something else is done,' Stewart, a supervisory air traffic controller, said during his Friday night appearance on NewsNation's 'Elizabeth Vargas Reports.' Stewart's remarks come as the New Jersey airport has dealt with communication blackouts and ongoing staff shortages, prompting concerns from travelers and public officials. The airport, one of the largest near New York City, had at least two radar outages this month, shining a spotlight on outdated technology, and has a deficit of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that 16 new air traffic controllers were placed in training to boost staffing figures. The workers were moved to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), where Newark airport's operations are situated. Additionally, he said a new runway would be opened at the airport soon to combat congestion. 'The concrete has been laid. I think they're just striping. They are just striping right now,' Duffy told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. 'We have a target date of June 15 of bringing the runway online.' The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said earlier this month it would slash the number of flights coming in and taking off from Newark to help reduce congestion and prevent delays. Until the construction of Runway 4-Left/22-Right is completed, the number of arrivals and departures will be limited to 28 per hour. President Trump and Duffy have vowed to overhaul the FAA, including launching a new program to promote the recruitment and retention of air traffic controllers and investing in more modern technology. Stewart outlined the stress and the responsibilities that air traffic controllers deal with daily while on the job and detailed a near incident on May 4 where two planes nearly collided. 'So, what led to that incident was basically fatigue in general, and that was due to a lack of staffing,' the air traffic controller said on Friday. 'I was using a combination of non-radar and radar rules, which is a completely different way of doing things than I'm used to doing normally.' Stewart noted that because he knew the radar would eventually go out — though he did not know the exact timing — he started writing down planes' flight data and call signs 'It's like knowing you're going to get into a car wreck. You just don't know when, so you better keep your seatbelt on just to, you know, be safe,' Steward told host Elizabeth Vargas. The air traffic controller said the FAA does not need more managers, but more leadership from the 'top.' 'So, there's an old saying to the military, which is, 'lead, follow or get out of the way.'' Stewart said. 'So, somebody needs to do something.' His words come after Duffy also admitted that he once changed his wife's ticket to avoid Newark — citing delays, not safety issues.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: Stowaway pigeons cause chaos in passenger cabin on Delta plane
May 29 (UPI) -- Pigeon pandemonium erupted on a Delta flight from Minnesota to Wisconsin when two birds took flight in the passenger cabin. Tom Caw, a passenger aboard Delta Flight 2348 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wis., said the first pigeon flew through the passenger cabin during preparations for take-off on Saturday. The bird was removed by baggage handlers, but a second pigeon came out of hiding once the plane left the terminal. "It was on the floor, strutting down the aisle. Somebody near me reached down to try and grab it, and that's when the chaos happened because the bird just launched into flight," Caw told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Caw recorded the moment a passenger nearly captured the pigeon with his jacket. The plane returned to the terminal and the pigeon was taken outside by the same baggage handlers who caught the first avian. Caw said a flight attendant then asked passengers to check for any more feathered stowaways. "Everybody started laughing," Caw said. "And then she waited for a second and she said, 'OK, yes, it's funny. But seriously, check to see if there are any birds under your seats or in your bags.'" The flight finally took off and landed in Madison 56 minutes after its scheduled time. Caw said he was just happy the incident ended without injuries to humans or birds. "My guess is the pigeons were tired of flying and wanted snacks," he wrote in his Instagram post. "They didn't know this flight to MSN is too short for Delta to offer beverage/snack service."
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Watch: Stowaway pigeons cause chaos in passenger cabin on Delta plane
May 29 (UPI) -- Pigeon pandemonium erupted on a Delta flight from Minnesota to Wisconsin when two birds took flight in the passenger cabin. Tom Caw, a passenger aboard Delta Flight 2348 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wis., said the first pigeon flew through the passenger cabin during preparations for take-off on Saturday. The bird was removed by baggage handlers, but a second pigeon came out of hiding once the plane left the terminal. "It was on the floor, strutting down the aisle. Somebody near me reached down to try and grab it, and that's when the chaos happened because the bird just launched into flight," Caw told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Caw recorded the moment a passenger nearly captured the pigeon with his jacket. The plane returned to the terminal and the pigeon was taken outside by the same baggage handlers who caught the first avian. Caw said a flight attendant then asked passengers to check for any more feathered stowaways. "Everybody started laughing," Caw said. "And then she waited for a second and she said, 'OK, yes, it's funny. But seriously, check to see if there are any birds under your seats or in your bags.'" The flight finally took off and landed in Madison 56 minutes after its scheduled time. Caw said he was just happy the incident ended without injuries to humans or birds. "My guess is the pigeons were tired of flying and wanted snacks," he wrote in his Instagram post. "They didn't know this flight to MSN is too short for Delta to offer beverage/snack service."
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
United Airlines flight circles SFO skies as crews inspect ‘maintenance' light
A United Airlines flight to San Francisco International Airport from Costa Rica delayed its landing Tuesday, circling the Bay Area skies while crew members evaluated a possible maintenance issue. United Airlines officials said flight 2313 from Juan Santamaría International Airport 'landed safely and customers deplaned normally at the gate. The aircraft was met by emergency services as a precaution.' The plane was forced to delay its landing due to a light 'indicating a possible maintenance issue,' according to United Airlines officials. The Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 157 passengers and six crew members seemed to enjoy a smooth flight path until it arrived in the Bay Area and circled the airspace surrounding SFO before landing at the airport 37 minutes late at 3:11 p.m., according to FlightAware, a flight tracking software. Officials did not provide further information regarding what prompted the safety check.
