Air Traffic Controller Refuses Flights Newark Over Technical Failures

An anonymous air traffic controller working for the Philadelphia facility that oversees Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has revealed serious safety concerns after experiencing multiple system failures, including a 90-second blackout on May 9 that left planes unmonitored. She described at least a dozen technical malfunctions over the past ten months, including power outages and radio disruptions, which have exacerbated staffing shortages and caused delays and cancellations at Newark. The controller has undergone psychological evaluation due to the stress and now deliberately avoids flying out of Newark, despite the inconvenience and cost, warning that if these issues are not resolved, a fatal crash is inevitable. In a detailed op-ed to The Times, she emphasized that the airport's air traffic control problems pose a significant danger, highlighting that during the blackout she lost all contact and radar visibility of multiple aircraft simultaneously. Her testimony underscores systemic operational problems and raises alarm about the potential for catastrophic accidents at one of the nation's major airports. This revelation has sparked heightened anxiety among travelers already wary of flying due to recent airline mishaps.