The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a brief but troubling communications outage that occurred at an air traffic control centre at Newark Liberty International Airport. The glitch, which only lasted approximately two seconds, is the latest in a series of telecom outages that have raised concerns among aviation authorities, airline officials, and travellers.
The blackout occurred on Monday morning, 19 May, at around 11:35 am at the Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which controls the airspace around Newark. Although no flights were affected and no safety concerns were cited, it was the fourth blackout in three weeks.
On Tuesday, 20 May, the FAA issued a temporary cap on flights to facilitate the airport’s operational challenges and stabilize air traffic flow during peak periods. Starting this week, flights to and from Newark are limited to 28 departures and 28 arrivals per hour until 15 June, and every weekend from September to December, while major runway construction is ongoing, according to the new plan, which the FAA released after meeting with representatives of major airlines. After the tarmac renovation wraps up, the hourly air traffic limit will slightly increase to 34 arrivals and departures until 25 October.
FAA Statement
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) May 11, 2025
This information is preliminary and subject to change.
There was a telecommunications issue at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace. The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport…
According to the FAA, the decision is intended to ease congestion and reduce delays, especially while Newark’s second-longest runway (Runway 4L/22R) undergoes a major renovation. The construction, along with equipment issues and ongoing air traffic controller shortages, has made it difficult to maintain smooth operations at the busy airport.
“Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,” said in a statement Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the FAA.
The FAA issued an interim order reducing the flight arrival and departure rate at @EWRairport. Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) May 20, 2025
Earlier disruptions include a more serious event on 9 May, when both radar and radio communications dropped for 90 seconds, and another on 28 April. All three were traced back to the same facility, which handles some of the busiest airspace in the region, including Newark, one of the country’s major airports. The staff responsible for air traffic control was unable to communicate with aircraft or identify their location due to a radar failure. Following the incident, at least five controllers took 45 days of trauma leave, resulting in a personnel deficit that caused over a thousand flights to be cancelled or delayed.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented on the Newark outages issue: “we’ll be taking steps to reduce the number of flights at the airport in the short term,” blaming the outdated systems and staffing shortages on the previous administration. Earlier this month, he unveiled a multibillion-dollar proposal to modernize America’s deteriorating air traffic control infrastructure.
As we work to address the telecom issues at Newark left to us by the last administration, we’ll be taking steps to reduce the number of flights at the airport in the short term.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) May 20, 2025
This interim step will ensure families aren’t stuck with endless delays and cancelations. More to… pic.twitter.com/KvIiA44SH2
Newark Liberty is not a small player in the country’s air travel network. It handled more than 49 million passengers last year and is one of the main gateways to the New York metropolitan area. The flight limits, though temporary, are part of a broader effort by the FAA to address growing concerns about congestion, ageing infrastructure, and staffing shortages not just in Newark, but across the national airspace system. Officials say they’re working on long-term improvements — including hiring more air traffic controllers and upgrading critical equipment — but those changes will take time.
For now, airlines are asked to adjust their schedules accordingly, and travellers are advised to plan ahead, check their flight status frequently, and include a little extra time if they’re flying through Newark.
