Serious crisis at US airport: Controllers shocked after losing contact with pilot

The situation of air traffic controllers in Newark is still dramatic. A week has passed since the sudden loss of communication with planes, and some employees of this sector decided to take leave due to increased stress. The New York airport is therefore dealing with significant staff shortages, which affect the limited fluidity of traffic. American media are reporting on the eighth day in a row in which passengers are struggling with delays and cancellations.

The controllers had no communication

It all started on Monday, April 28, when workers at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control tower, which controls flights arriving at Newark Airport, suddenly lost radar and communication with the planes. Controllers were temporarily unable to see the planes on a map or talk to the pilots, which is essential for safe takeoff and landing.

Although no accidents occurred, the situation affected the mental health of the controllers. At least five employees decided to take leave. There was also no shortage of criticism of the outdated and unreliable control system.

Chaos at the airport

The effects of the outage at Newark International Airport are still being felt today. The chaos caused by the staffing shortage is now in its eighth day, causing delays and cancellations for thousands of passengers. United Airlines has cut 35 flights to Newark each day since Saturday, AP News reports. The Federal Aviation Administration reports average delays of nearly two hours. Yesterday alone, New York Airport experienced more than 150 cancellations and 300 delays, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware, and thousands of disruptions last week.

Tourists can also expect problems at Newark in the coming days. The shortage of air traffic controllers will be a serious challenge in the coming months not only in the United States but also at many airports in Europe.

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