Travelers heading to Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey are facing major disruptions after an air traffic control radio outage brought all incoming flights to a halt.
The issue, affecting planes from across the U.S. and Canada, is causing delays of up to 2.5 hours on average, with some flights pushed back nearly four hours.
Departures Remain Largely Unaffected
Fortunately, flights leaving Newark do not appear to be impacted by the outage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that an equipment problem caused air traffic controllers to lose access to their radio frequencies, affecting communication with inbound aircraft.
Widespread Frustration Among Travelers
Passengers have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, with some reporting multiple delays within just 15 minutes.
The disruption comes at the start of the busy Labor Day weekend, a period when Newark expects more than three million travelers to pass through its terminals.
Newark Airport Urges Extra Travel Time
While the airport has not officially acknowledged the outage, it has advised travelers to plan ahead for the holiday rush.
“Traveling this weekend? It’s going to be busy,” the airport posted on X, recommending extra time to park, check in, and clear security lines.
Second Outage Hits Philadelphia ATC Center in 24 Hours
This marks the second outage in 24 hours affecting the Philadelphia air traffic control center, which oversees Newark’s airspace.
The first incident occurred Wednesday evening, when audio briefly failed, disrupting communication between planes and controllers.
FAA’s Newark Airspace Management Changes
The FAA relocated control of Newark airspace to Philadelphia last year to better manage staffing and congestion in the busy New York City flight corridor.
The current outages highlight ongoing challenges in maintaining smooth operations during peak travel periods.
Travelers Brace for Holiday Chaos
As the Labor Day weekend gets underway, passengers are advised to remain patient, monitor flight updates, and expect further delays while the FAA works to restore full communication capabilities.
