Newark Airport Faces 2,122 Flight Disruptions Amid Staffing Crisis, FAA Issues

Newark Liberty International Airport has experienced severe flight delays and cancellations for over a week, largely due to a combination of air traffic controller shortages, technological failures, and adverse weather conditions. The crisis escalated after a critical outage at the Philadelphia air traffic control center, which temporarily severed communication and radar contact with aircraft, prompting over 20% of controllers to take medical leave. The situation has been exacerbated by the closure of a major runway for construction and ongoing issues with outdated FAA equipment, leading United Airlines to cut dozens of daily flights in an attempt to manage the disruption. Both New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have called the situation unacceptable, with Schumer demanding a federal investigation into the FAA’s handling of the events. The disruptions have drawn national scrutiny, raised concerns over U.S. air travel reliability, and highlighted the urgent need for modernization and increased staffing in the nation’s air traffic control system. Travelers are advised to closely monitor their flight status as delays and cancellations are likely to persist in the coming days.