Newark Airport Briefly Lost Radar and Radio Contact, Air Traffic Control Audio Reveals
Newly released audio recordings have captured the tense moments last week when air traffic controllers experienced a temporary but alarming loss of radar and radio communications while guiding aircraft approaching Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The incident, which occurred on April 28th, lasted approximately 90 seconds and involved the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility in Philadelphia.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) confirmed the outage to Fox News Digital, explaining that the Philadelphia TRACON/ATCT (Terminal Radar Approach Control/Air Traffic Control Tower) experienced a sudden loss of radar and communications capabilities, effectively blinding and silencing controllers regarding the planes under their direction. They were unable to see the aircraft on their radar screens or communicate with the pilots via radio.
The audio recordings paint a picture of growing concern and urgency among the controllers as they grappled with the unexpected system failure. The recordings begin with controllers first becoming aware of the problem emanating from the Philadelphia facility.
"There is some equipment outages, so I don’t know what exactly the equipment is, but they’re having some frequency issues, and then the radar scopes are out, so they can’t have anyone depart right now," one voice can be heard saying. This initial report suggests a problem with both radio frequencies and radar displays, immediately halting departures from the affected airport.
The situation quickly escalated as the scope of the outage became clearer. "I am going to move you here because I just got told that the approach lost all the radars. Three of the four radar screens went black and they have no frequencies," another controller announced. This statement highlights the severity of the problem: a significant portion of the radar screens went dark, and controllers lost the ability to communicate with incoming aircraft, severely impairing their ability to safely manage air traffic.
The loss of radar and radio communication created immediate challenges for managing arrivals. "I guess this is a serious issue because I have one more arrival, and now I have nobody else coming in back," a controller remarked, underscoring the critical impact of the outage on the flow of air traffic. The loss of situational awareness meant that no more aircraft could be safely guided into the airport.
Controllers can be heard urgently seeking more information about the cause and potential duration of the outage. "Any idea how long the departure delay is going to be?" one voice asked, reflecting the concern about the growing backlog of flights. "I have no idea. We’re still waiting on word from Newark TRACON," another controller replied, indicating that information was scarce and that controllers were relying on updates from other facilities.
The audio recording reveals a sense of frustration and uncertainty as the minutes ticked by. One controller reports, "The approach just told me that a couple of techs went in, looked at the radar scope and walked out. They think it’s going to be a likely delay." The apparent lack of a quick fix contributed to the growing apprehension about the impact on airport operations.
While the 90-second outage was relatively brief, it highlights the potential vulnerabilities of air traffic control systems. The incident occurred prior to a more prolonged period of significant delays and cancellations at Newark Airport, which began on Thursday. The FAA attributed these subsequent problems, in part, to staffing shortages.
In a statement provided to FOX Business, the FAA addressed the broader staffing challenges: "While we cannot quickly replace [the controllers who have left] due to this highly specialized profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace." The agency also noted that when staffing or equipment issues arise, the FAA prioritizes safety by slowing the rate of arrivals into the airport. The FAA pledged to keep the public informed as they work to address the issues.
The Newark airport has been plagued with many issues since. House Representative Hakeem Jeffries has criticized former President Trump policies relating to the FAA as the route of this chaos.
The April 28th incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of reliable radar and radio communication for safe and efficient air traffic management. While the FAA has acknowledged the staffing and equipment challenges it faces, ensuring the continued reliability of these essential systems is paramount. The newly released audio underscores the urgency of addressing these issues to prevent future disruptions and maintain the safety of air travel. The incident has drawn attention to the complex interplay of aging infrastructure, staffing shortages, and increasing air traffic volume. These contributing factors combined underscore the need for sustained investment in modernization efforts and workforce development to ensure the long-term stability of the nation’s air traffic control system. The 90-second outage serves as a micro-example of the larger issues plaguing our flight travel system.
