Latest news with #LibertyInternationalAirport
Skift
6 days ago
- Business
- Skift
'Most Critical Infrastructure Project': DOT Chief Urges Air Traffic Overhaul
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he wanted a brand new air traffic control system, but it could take years — or even decades. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the top infrastructure project in the U.S. is overhauling the air traffic control system. 'This is probably the most, not probably, this is the most critical infrastructure project that this country has at this moment,' Duffy said during a press conference. Aging infrastructure and an acute air traffic controller shortage have started to take a toll on air travel. Newark Liberty International Airport recently experienced a string of outages that led
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United Airlines Had to Cancel Major Flight to Newark Airport
Newark's Liberty International Airport has been hit hard by delays and technical issues over the last few weeks, and a major transatlantic flight headed for the airport was recently canceled. The flight, which was set to leave from Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, was canceled due to a mechanical issue. The United Airlines flight was set to feature a Boeing 757 aircraft before being canceled. The plane returned to its gate and passengers were diverted to other flights out of the same airport. Passengers were sent to the next available flights to Newark, and United added that it was working to ensure as little disruption and delay as possible. After the mechanical issue was detected and passengers left the aircraft, United looked to assess and fix the issue with the plane. The airline did not reveal the exact issue that caused the cancellation, only noting that the safety of passengers was the number one priority. Hundreds of delays are recorded at the Newark airport every day, largely due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The problem was made even worse by a busy Memorial Day travel weekend, likely the first of many this summer. Old equipment and runway renovations have also contributed to the delays at the airport, with travelers stuck waiting to leave for hours at a congested and understaffed airport and air traffic control space. Federal authorities have intervened at the airport, issuing restrictions that allow only 28 departures and 28 arrivals per hour. The staggered flight plan is expected to continue through mid-June, and could be extended for longer if it's seen as necessary. On Sunday, FlightAware says that planes were coming into the airport and leaving it at an average of 35 minutes late from their expected departure time. Many travelers have avoided the Newark airport over the last few weeks, and that plan could be an intelligent one during the summer. Whether it's taking the train, driving or simply just going to a different airport, Newark has a long way to go before it's up to par with other major international airports around the country. United Airlines Had to Cancel Major Flight to Newark Airport first appeared on Men's Journal on May 27, 2025
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Memorial Day Weekend Travel Chaos As Hundreds of Flights Grounded
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Travelers faced major disruptions this Memorial Day weekend as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded hundreds of flights nationwide due to severe weather. The FAA cited safety concerns amid thunderstorms and adverse weather conditions. Thunderstorms that moved into the Denver metro area Sunday forced the FAA to halt flights coming into Denver International Airport. Thunderstorms in Central Florida also prompted a ground stop at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Sunday evening, temporarily halting incoming flights and causing significant delays. Officials urged passengers to check flight statuses regularly. Newsweek has contacted the FAA for comment. Passengers queuing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday. Passengers queuing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday. Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/AP This is a breaking story. More to follow.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Birds were sucked into both engines of FedEx cargo plane that made a fiery landing, NTSB preliminary report finds
Birds were sucked into both engines of a FedEx cargo plane that made a fiery landing in March at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report released Wednesday. On March 1, FedEx flight 3609, a Boeing 767-300F, took off from Newark, heading to Indianapolis International Airport. While the first officer was flying, he saw three white birds at about 500 feet and called out 'birds,' the report said. The pilots immediately heard an 'abrupt bang,' and the plane experienced moderate to severe vibrations. Fire indications were displayed in the cockpit and air traffic control could see flames coming from the right engine. The pilots declared an emergency, shut off one engine, and turned to fly back to the airport, the NTSB said. The plane landed safely and the two pilots and one passenger, who was also a pilot, had no injuries. Bird remains were found in both jet engines, the preliminary report noted. The right engine, which had been on fire, had a broken fan blade and part of the exhaust system broke off and was found in a grassy field alongside I-95, near the flight path. The investigation is still underway and will be complete when a final report is issued in about a year. Bird strikes are fairly common, though the amount of damage varies widely. In 2024, there were 137 reports of wildlife being hit by aircraft at Newark airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's wildlife strike database.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Sean Duffy switched wife off Newark flight after claiming airport was safe: 'I needed her to fly'
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted Wednesday that he changed his wife's flight reservation to avoid making her take off from Newark Liberty International Airport — just hours after claiming the troubled New Jersey hub was safe for the public. Duffy, 53, told conservative SiriusXM radio host David Webb on Monday that his wife, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, had been due to fly out of EWR the following day, but he had 'switched her flight to LaGuardia.' When the Transportation Secretary appeared before the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) suggested Duffy had 'diverted your wife from Newark airport to LaGuardia out of a sense of security.' Advertisement 3 Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy defended his decision to change his wife's flight from Newark Liberty International Airport. Anadolu via Getty Images 3 Duffy said his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, needed to avoid the delays in New Jersey, so he changed her flight to LaGuardia. Bloomberg via Getty Images 'That's not true,' Duffy began before revising his answer to 'it's partially true.' 'With all the delays at Newark — my wife had to do an event and she was in the city of New York, and so I did — I moved her from Newark to LaGuardia, not for safety but because I needed her flight to fly. She had to get there.' Advertisement Watson Coleman said that she accepted Duffy's explanation. On Monday, Newark airport saw scores of delays and cancellations after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop following an outage at one of its air traffic control facilities. 3 Air traffic controllers have slammed the current situation at the Newark airport, claiming it is understaffed and outdated. Getty Images Advertisement The day before appearing on Webb's show, Duffy had gone on NBC News' 'Meet The Press' to insist that 'it is' safe for travelers to fly out of Newark. 'I fly out of Newark all the time,' he told moderator Kristen Welker. 'My family flies out of Newark.' However, the transportation secretary admitted that officials had 'brought down the number of airplanes that come in and leave Newark because, listen, our mission is safety.' 'Yeah, I hate delays. I hate cancellations. And I hate families who come with little kids that are sitting there for four hours. I've done that myself on occasion. It's hard. But I want you to get to where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely. We lost a few controllers who were stressed out by the first connectivity that we lost last week. And so we have less controllers working the Newark airspace right now. And, you know, we're having these – these glitches in the system. So we slow it down and keep people safe.' Advertisement A New York-based air traffic controller told The Post the situation at Newark airport was 'pure insanity,' with key operations functioning on a 'bare bones' staff during the busiest nights. Duffy has blamed the Biden administration for the recent chaos at the airport, accusing them of failing to oversee a smooth transition of Newark's airspace to the troubled Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) back in July 2024.
