A Newark air traffic controller on the moment systems went dark

Summary

Consider This from NPR

Episode: A Newark Air Traffic Controller on the Moment Systems Went Dark

Release Date: May 21, 2025
Host: Ailsa Chang

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ailsa Chang delves into a critical issue plaguing American aviation: the recent technical failures within the air traffic control systems at Newark Liberty International Airport. Through expert insights and firsthand accounts, the episode explores the underlying causes, the immediate impacts on air travel, and the broader implications for the aviation industry's safety and efficiency.

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Air Travel Safety: A Complex Landscape

The discussion opens with reassurances from aviation safety professionals about the overall safety of commercial aviation in the United States. Jeff Guetti, an aviation safety consultant, emphasizes the robustness of the system:

Jeff Guetti [00:16]: "I still believe that the commercial aviation safety in this country is safe. I think you should not have any fears of this."

David Grizzle, former Chief Operating Officer and Head of Air Traffic Control for the FAA during the Obama administration, echoes this sentiment but adds a note of caution regarding the narrowing safety margins:

David Grizzle [01:06]: "At the same time, the margin of safety is narrower than what it was 10 years ago."

William McGee from the American Economic Liberties Project also acknowledges the statistical safety of air travel while expressing personal concerns about the current state of the system:

William McGee [01:18]: "I usually say, look, you know, statistically this is still by far the safest form of transportation and we need to put things in perspective. But I will tell you that I myself am a little worried right now."

These perspectives set the stage for a deeper investigation into the recent disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport.

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Recent Issues Over Newark Airspace

Over the past month, Newark Liberty International Airport has experienced a series of technical outages that have severely impacted its operations. On April 28, critical communications and radar systems failed at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages the airspace around Newark. This outage was just the beginning of a troubling pattern.

Technical Outages and Immediate Impact

The failure of these systems led to widespread flight cancellations and delays, straining both passengers and the aviation infrastructure. A representative from the FAA stated:

FAA Representative [04:26]: "I believe the system is safe. There are multiple redundancies throughout the system that keep people safe."

However, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Federal regulators have had to limit the number of flights in and out of Newark to manage the strained system:

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [10:01]: "We are at our limit. Our families are telling us, you need a break. Like our friends are telling us, you don't seem okay."

Despite these measures, the recurring outages have raised significant concerns about the reliability and safety of Newark's airspace management.

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In-depth Perspective: An Air Traffic Controller's Experience

To gain a deeper understanding, NPR's Joel Rose interviews an unnamed air traffic controller stationed at the Philadelphia TRACON during one of the outages. This controller provides a candid account of the challenges faced:

Air Traffic Controller [05:46]: "It was incredibly frustrating to have the tools that we rely on to do the job simply fail. Losing contact with fully loaded jets traveling hundreds of miles an hour in some of the nation's busiest airspace."

Root Causes: Underinvestment and Staffing Shortages

The controller attributes the problems to systemic issues within the FAA, including underinvestment in technology and a chronic shortage of trained air traffic controllers:

Air Traffic Controller [06:20]: "The FAA is paying a lot of attention to our concerns now, but that was not always the case before."

A critical decision that exacerbated the situation was the FAA's relocation of Newark's air traffic controllers from Long Island, New York, to Philadelphia. This move was intended to address staffing shortages by taking advantage of Philadelphia's lower cost of living and easier recruitment. However, it led to significant operational challenges:

FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker [07:12]: "With this move, we're able to relieve the stress and improve controller staffing levels by recruiting and training controllers in Philadelphia."

Despite bonuses offered to the relocated controllers, many were unhappy due to personal and logistical challenges:

Relocated Controller [07:30]: "We did not have these issues when we were in New York. Newark is the problem because you moved us out of New York without a real plan."

Operational Failures and Systemic Breakdown

The controller describes the move as a "disaster" that significantly hindered Newark's airspace operations:

Relocated Controller [08:54]: "It's been worse of a disaster than even, like, the most cynical people in the union predicted. It's been a debacle."

The FAA's response has involved urgent measures to upgrade infrastructure and hire additional personnel. However, the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers and the psychological toll on existing staff have limited the effectiveness of these efforts:

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [10:01]: "We're all at that point. Like, you can tell people are breaking down. You can see the misery when people show up to work."

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Is Newark Airport Safe?

Safety remains a paramount concern for both the FAA and the controllers managing Newark's airspace. While the FAA maintains that the system is safe, the ongoing technical issues and staff shortages have eroded confidence among those directly responsible for maintaining it.

The FAA has temporarily reduced the number of flights to 56 per hour to align with the current capacity of the air traffic control system. However, this solution reflects a reactive approach rather than addressing the root causes of the problem.

From the controller's perspective, the situation at Newark undermines the overall safety of air travel:

Air Traffic Controller [10:44]: "I was like, no, don't fly out of Newark. Like, at the very least, you're going to be delayed."

Even high-ranking officials express reservations about flying through Newark due to practical considerations:

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [10:44]: "I was like, no, don't fly out of Newark. Like, at the very least, you're going to be delayed."

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Conclusion

The episode "A Newark Air Traffic Controller on the Moment Systems Went Dark" sheds light on the fragile state of air traffic control systems in the United States, using Newark Liberty International Airport as a case study. While air travel remains statistically safe, the technical failures and systemic issues highlighted in this episode reveal vulnerabilities that could have severe implications for the future of aviation safety and efficiency. The insights provided by frontline workers underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and investments to restore confidence in America's air traffic management infrastructure.

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This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the full podcast.

Transcript

[Ailsa Chang]

Usually when you're interviewing an aviation safety expert, it's because something bad has happened, like a crash, a glitch or a close call. And when you ask them, should Americans feel safe flying? You almost always hear some version of this.

[Joel Rose]

So I still believe that the commercial aviation safety in this country is safe. I think you should not have any fears of this.

[Ailsa Chang]

That's aviation safety consultant Jeff Guetti speaking with NPR earlier this month. And if you still need convincing, here's David Grizzle. He was chief operating officer and head of air traffic control for the FAA during the Obama administration. You heard him on this podcast two weeks ago.

[Joel Rose]

I would not hesitate to fly anytime, anywhere with my grandchildren. The system is safe.

[Ailsa Chang]

And they're right. Flying is safe, close to 200 times safer than driving per mile traveled. But Grizzle's endorsement of air travel safety included a follow up.

[Joel Rose]

At the same time, the margin of safety is narrower than what it was 10 years ago.

[Ailsa Chang]

We heard a similar sentiment from William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project.

[Joel Rose]

I usually say, look, you know, statistically this is still by far the safest form of transportation and we need to put things in perspective. But I will tell you that I myself am a little worried right now.

[Ailsa Chang]

There are many reasons for their concerns. A long brewing shortage of air traffic controllers, technology dating back as far as the 1980s and decades of underfunding. That's the backdrop for what happened in the skies above Newark Liberty International Airport over the past month, a series of incidents in which air traffic controllers were lost communications or radar systems. One of them shared their story with npr. Consider this an air traffic controller who worked through one of the outages says the problems at Newark are self inflicted. How did the situation get this bad and what could fix it? From npr, I'm Ailsa Chang.

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[Ailsa Chang]

I'm Tonya Moseley, co host of Fresh Air. At a time of sound bites and short attention spans, our show is all about the deep dive. We do long form interviews with people behind the best in film, books, tv, music and journalism. Here Our guests open up about their process and their lives in ways you've never heard before. Listen to the Fresh AIR podcast from npr and whyyy. It's Consider this from npr. Federal regulators are now limiting the number of flights in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport. This comes after a harrowing month for the air traffic controllers who work the airspace around it.

[Joel Rose]

We lost our radar and it's not working correctly.

[Ailsa Chang]

On April 28, Communications and Radar systems went dark at the air traffic control facility in Philadelphia where controllers manage the airspace around Newark.

[Joel Rose]

We don't have a radar, so I don't know where you are.

[Ailsa Chang]

We covered the aftermath of that incident here on this podcast, but since then, there have been more outages, as you can hear in these archived audio recordings from the website liveatc.net FedEx 1989 hand you off here.

[Joel Rose]

Our scopes just went black again. I just got told that all the radar, three of the radar screens went black. They have no frequencies.

[Ailsa Chang]

Hundreds of flights in and out of Newark have been canceled or delayed since the first outage. Now the Federal Aviation Administration is slowing the pace of arrivals and departures. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy insists that that will help.

[Sean Duffy]

I believe the system is safe. There are multiple redundancies throughout the system that keep people safe. Even the frustrations in Newark when we've slowed traffic down, the key is not efficiency. The key is safety.

[Ailsa Chang]

Still, these incidents have raised big questions. How did the mess in Newark get as bad as it did? And what will it take to fix an aging air traffic control system? So we're going to hear a perspective from inside that system from an air traffic controller who was working the airspace around Newark during one of those outages. NPR's Joel Rose covers transportation and joins us now. So, Joel, who was this air traffic controller who you spoke with and what can you tell us about them?

[Joel Rose]

What I can say, first of all is that they work in the Philadelphia tracon, that's short for the Terminal Radar Approach Control. These are facilities that handle traffic in highly congested airspace. In this case, around Newark. This controller asked us not to use their name because they are not authorized to speak publicly by their bosses at the faa and they're afraid of retaliation for speaking out. They also asked us not to use their voice for the same reason. So what you're going to hear in this story are their words, because. But they will be read by one of our producers.

[Ailsa Chang]

Got it. Okay. And as we just said, this person was on duty during one of these outages. What was that like?

[Joel Rose]

They Said it was incredibly frustrating to have the tools that they rely on to do the job simply fail. Losing contact with fully loaded jets traveling hundreds of miles an hour in some of the nation's busiest airspace. Again, this is the voice of an NPR producer. Reading the words of the air traffic.

[Sean Duffy]

Controller, it was like disbelief and then it was just like theory, honestly, like, how could they have us working this? You know, frustration, anger, like just being furious at the FAA because we had other outages prior to that point that demonstrated to us that our equipment was unreliable.

[Joel Rose]

This controller says the FAA is paying a lot of attention to their concerns now, but that was not always the case before. The controller says they had asked the FAA to slow the number of planes using this airspace, but were told, no.

[Ailsa Chang]

Wait, go back a little bit. How did things in Newark airspace get so bad? Bad?

[Joel Rose]

I know this is the big question that a lot of people have. In a sense, Newark is suffering from the same problems as the entire air traffic control system in the us. There's underinvestment in technology, in systems that are in many cases decades old, and there's a shortage of staffing for air traffic controllers. The system nationwide is thousands of controllers short. All of that is true. But according to this controller, the things that happened in Newark are also very specific to Newark and in particular the way the FAA moved the air traffic controllers who work the Newark airsp from Long Island, New York to Philadelphia last year.

[Sean Duffy]

So this particular situation was a self inflicted FAA decision to move us out of New York. We did not have these issues when we were in New York. And so you're trying to make it seem like, well, the FAA is in shambles and that's why Newark is this problem. No, Newark is the problem because you moved us out of New York without a real plan.

[Joel Rose]

Let me back up here for a moment. For years the FAA had been talking about moving control of the Newark airspace out of Long island, which handles the other two big airports in the LaGuardia and JFK. And for a long time the FAA had trouble hiring enough controllers to staff the facility on Long Island. The training success rate there was also low. And those who did work there made a lot of money in overtime. So the FAA decided the long term solution here was to move the controllers who handle Newark to Philadelphia, where the cost of living is lower and it would be easier to recruit. Here is Michael Whitaker, the FAA administrator during the Biden administration, explaining the rationale for this back in November. With this move, we're able to relieve the stress and improve controller Staffing levels by recruiting and training controllers in Philadelphia. This has been meant to get us healthy on a staffing level. As part of this move, some of the controllers from Long island were forced to relocate. They all get a bonus of $100,000, but many still do not like this because they have families, kids in schools. The controller we spoke to was not happy about the move.

[Sean Duffy]

I get it, in a sense, like, why they were like, well, let's move it somewhere else. But I feel like the way they went about it was really haphazard. It was really reckless, honestly. And it was a little bit cruel to us as people, as the controllers who they moved.

[Joel Rose]

There had been 33 certified air traffic controllers working the Newark airspace from Long Island. Two dozen of them made the move last summer to Philadelphia. And according to the controller we spoke to, some of them, had big concerns even then about how the move would work from a technical standpoint. Still, the controller says they tried to keep an open mind, but even they were surprised at how badly it has gone.

[Sean Duffy]

It's been worse of a disaster than even, like the most cynical people in the union predicted. It's been a debacle.

[Joel Rose]

The FAA did not respond directly to these allegations, but the agency says it is working on an expedited plan to install new fiber optic lines to replace the copper wires that are still in use in some places and adding new backup systems to help with the technical issues in Newark. And Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, says the agency is, quote, supercharged the hiring of new air traffic controllers. But the reality is that it takes years to train them. And there is a nationwide staffing shortage right now that is especially acute in Philadelphia, where some of these controllers have taken trauma leave to recover from the psychological impact of the recent outages. Including the controller we spoke to.

[Sean Duffy]

We are at our limit. Our families are telling us, you need a break. Like our friends are telling us, you don't seem okay. We're all at that point. Like, you can tell people are breaking down. You can see the misery when people show up to work. There have been grown men crying in the parking lot on their breaks because of our work conditions.

[Ailsa Chang]

God, it just seems unsustainable. I guess the bottom line is, is Newark Airport safe?

[Joel Rose]

A lot of people say yes. The FAA just announced that they are temporarily cutting the number of flights in Newark to 56 per hour. That's a number that reflects what the air traffic control system can actually handle. But I put this question to the controller who works the airspace, and here's what they told me.

[Sean Duffy]

I had my best friend ask me the other day, like, I got a Newark flight. Is it going to be fine? I was like, no, don't fly out of Newark. Like, at the very least, you're going to be delayed. But no, like, I've had to book flights and Newark is the cheapest option, the most convenient option, nine times out of ten, and I'm not going to do it.

[Joel Rose]

Even the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, admitted that he had his wife change her flight From Newark to LaGuardia Airport in New York City, not because it was unsafe, he said, but just because she needed to get where she was going. And I think a lot of people will be wrestling with those kinds of choices.

[Ailsa Chang]

That is NPR transportation correspondent Joel Rose. Thank you so much, Joel.

[Joel Rose]

You're welcome.

[Ailsa Chang]

This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Conor Donovan. It was edited by Russell Lewis, Courtney Dorning and Justine Kennan. Our executive producer is Sami Yeniken. It's CONSIDER this from npr. I'm Ailsa Chang.

[Sarah Gonzalez]

Hey, it's Sarah Gonzalez. The economy has been in the news a lot lately. It's kind of always in the news, and Planet Money is always here to explain it. Each episode we tell a sometimes quirky, sometimes surprising, always interesting story that helps you better understand the economy. So when you hear something about cryptocurrency or where exactly your taxes go, yes, Abes, listen to the Planet Money podcast from npr.

[Ailsa Chang]

Shortwave thinks of science as an invisible force showing up in your everyday life, powering the food you eat, the medicine you use, the tech in your pocket. Science is approachable because it's already part of your life. Come explore these connections on the Short Wave podcast from npr.

[Sarah Gonzalez]

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