Overview

• Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia temporarily lost radar and communication with Newark-bound planes on April 28, leaving them unable to see or talk to aircraft for 30–90 seconds.
• Five controllers took trauma leave under federal provisions after the incident, exacerbating chronic staffing shortages at the Philadelphia TRACON facility.
• Delays and cancellations persist at Newark Liberty International Airport, with United Airlines cutting 35 daily flights from its schedule to manage disruptions.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has pledged a multibillion-dollar plan to modernize the FAA’s aging air traffic control infrastructure, with implementation expected to take three to four years.
• Lawmakers, including Senator Chuck Schumer, are demanding FAA investigations, citing systemic vulnerabilities and the need for urgent action to prevent further nationwide disruptions.