Overview

• The Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center experienced a 90-second radio outage on May 12, temporarily severing communication with up to 20 aircraft approaching Denver International Airport.
• Air traffic controllers successfully used an emergency frequency to relay instructions, ensuring safe separation of planes and avoiding operational impacts.
• This incident is part of a series of recent air traffic control failures, including multiple outages at Newark Airport, attributed to aging infrastructure and staffing shortfalls.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the Denver outage while advancing a multibillion-dollar modernization plan to replace outdated systems and address a shortage of 3,500 air traffic controllers.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has emphasized the urgency of upgrading the 1970s-era technology, including replacing radars and transitioning from copper wiring to fiber optics.