Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) faced yet another equipment outage over the weekend, leading to significant delays and a temporary ground stop. This marked the third such incident in less than two weeks, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reporting that a backup air traffic control system failed momentarily on Sunday morning.
In response to the failure, a 45-minute ground stop was implemented to ensure the system was properly restored. Although the FAA indicated that operations returned to normal shortly after, the impact was felt across flights with over 250 delays and at least 80 cancellations noted as of late Sunday night. Fortunately, with Mother’s Day reducing airport foot traffic, Terminal B experienced fewer crowds than usual.
The ongoing situation at Newark is compounded by air traffic control staffing shortages. Despite this, officials maintain that flight safety remains a top priority. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy elaborated on the steps being taken to mitigate the airport’s issues, announcing plans to temporarily reduce the number of flights. Duffy highlighted that the construction of a new direct line from Newark to the Philadelphia air traffic control center (TRACON) would help streamline operations, replacing the current, more convoluted routing.
Concerns about the Newark situation were echoed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who urged the FAA to prioritize resolving Newark’s problems to prevent similar issues from affecting airports across the nation. “If they fix Newark quickly, they can learn from it and assure the public they have a handle on the situation,” Schumer stated.
Passengers expressed growing frustration with the ongoing disruptions. Travelers like Teah Thompson, who was at the airport with her four children, shared their disappointment over unexpected delays while others echoed sentiments about the strain of repeated disruptions.
As the FAA and airport officials work to address these issues, travelers remain hopeful for prompt solutions that will restore smoother operations at Newark Liberty International Airport. The situation highlights the critical need for robust infrastructure and effective communication in safeguarding air travel safety and efficiency.