DOT Plans Overhaul After Air Traffic Control Outages

A telecommunications outage at Philadelphia's Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility caused air traffic controllers to lose radar and communications for about 90 seconds at 3:55 a.m. on May 9, affecting flights at Newark Liberty International Airport. This was the second similar outage in recent weeks, with a previous incident on April 28 leading to significant flight disruptions and staffing shortages from trauma leave. As of the morning of May 9, Newark saw hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations, with ongoing issues stemming from technical problems, staffing constraints, bad weather, and runway construction. The FAA and Department of Transportation have acknowledged that these recurring technical failures highlight broader infrastructure concerns within U.S. air traffic control. In response, the Department of Transportation has announced plans to overhaul the nation's air traffic control infrastructure. The situation is under review as officials work to restore reliability and public confidence in air travel.