The unprecedented operational crisis at Newark Liberty International Airport extended into its ninth consecutive day on Thursday as federal officials scrambled to address critical air traffic controller staffing shortages. The Federal Aviation Administration is deploying controllers from across the country to the Philadelphia facility that manages Newark’s airspace while offering financial incentives to retain controllers approaching retirement age.
Thousands of travelers continue to face extended delays and flight cancellations with no immediate resolution in sight. United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, has already cut 35 daily round-trip flights from its schedule and issued comprehensive travel waivers for affected passengers as the busy summer travel season approaches.
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Equipment Failure Triggered Controller Exodus
The crisis began on April 28 when controllers at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control facility experienced a complete system failure that left them unable to communicate with aircraft for approximately 90 seconds. This terrifying incident, which potentially endangered numerous flights, prompted many controllers to take leave under the Federal Employees Compensation Act…