Radar screens experienced a blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey early Friday morning. The outage occurred at 3:55 a.m. and lasted approximately 90 seconds, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. Air traffic controllers communicated with aircraft affected by the blackout, instructing them to relay the issue to their company for prompt resolution. In response to the blackout, controllers advised incoming flights to maintain a minimum altitude of 3,000 feet in case communication was disrupted during descent due to the outage.
The FAA attributed the blackout to a “telecommunications outage affecting communications and radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C,” which oversees the airspace around Newark. Last week, a similar outage at Newark resulted in a brief loss of communication between controllers and aircraft, prompting a temporary suspension of departures from the airport.
Following the recent blackout incident, some controllers took medical leave, citing the event as traumatic. These controllers are required to undergo a medical evaluation before returning to work, with a minimum leave period of 45 days. The shortage of air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia facility covering Newark had already led to significant flight disruptions in the preceding weeks.
In response to these challenges, the Department of Transportation unveiled plans for a new, advanced air traffic control system to replace the outdated infrastructure. The proposed system aims to enhance safety, reduce delays, and modernize telecommunications, hardware, and software. The overhaul includes the replacement of old radars, construction of new control centers, and installation of modern technologies.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy anticipates completing the new system within the next three to four years at a significant cost, likely amounting to billions of dollars. Duffy intends to request the full funding from Congress to support the ambitious modernization efforts, which have garnered previous support from lawmakers.
This story is developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
