Denver Air Traffic Control Outage Cuts Pilot Communications for Six Minutes

A critical telecommunications failure at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in Longmont caused up to 20 pilots approaching Denver International Airport to lose communication with air traffic controllers for about six minutes. The outage, attributed to multiple failing radio transmitters and aging equipment, occurred during a vital phase of aircraft descent when four primary frequencies were already down, forcing controllers to rely on a backup frequency that also failed. Disaster was averted when a controller reached one pilot using an emergency "guard line," who then relayed instructions to other pilots to change frequencies. The center manages extensive airspace covering parts of nine states and is one of 22 such centers nationwide, highlighting the significant risk posed by outdated infrastructure. The incident comes amid increased FAA scrutiny due to recent mishaps and ongoing concerns about staff shortages and equipment reliability. Experts warn that losing communication with multiple aircraft simultaneously is particularly dangerous and underscores the urgent need to update critical air traffic control technology.