On May 6, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey, a man stands outside Terminal C, which has the airport control tower in the background of Newar Liberty International Airport.
Andres Kudakki | Getty Images
Air traffic controllers leading planes inside and outside Newar Liberty International Airport lost communications between the radar and the aircraft at another 90-second stop before dawn Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said hours after the Trump administration announced plans to overhaul dilapidated technologies that keep US airspace safe.
The outage occurred around 3:55am ET, the FAA said. With far fewer aircraft flying overnight, the suspension was minimal compared to a similar outage on the afternoon of April 28th.
According to the FAA, several controllers said they had taken leave due to the stress of the incident that April. This has worsened staffing levels at Philadelphia facilities. At the facility, the controller oversaw a plane in Newark, New Jersey, and forced the FAA to carry traffic at the airport.
Like the April incident, the Friday outage has left the controllers darkened, leaving them unable to communicate with the aircraft and their radar screens.
On Thursday, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to overhaul several aging facilities used by controllers that oversee around 45,000 flights per day in the United States and unveil the latest technology.
Aviation Industry Group and unions praised the proposal, saying on Thursday that Congress should approve at least $31 billion over the next three years for improvement. This includes the $12.5 billion outlined in the House spending proposal last month for modernising air traffic control and increasing controller employment.
