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Newark Airport Outages Highlight Urgent Need for Air Traffic Control Modernization

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy assures safety while pledging swift fixes for Newark's outdated system as Congress weighs FAA overhaul funding.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House on May 6 in Washington, D.C.
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Overview

  • Newark Liberty International Airport experienced another brief radar and radio outage early Friday morning, continuing a pattern of disruptions since August 2024.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributes the outages to telecom and software glitches in a system that is up to 50 years old.
  • Duffy stated that primary and redundant data lines at Newark are now operational and expects the specific glitch to be resolved soon.
  • The FAA has proposed a multibillion-dollar modernization plan to replace aging air traffic control infrastructure, pending congressional approval.
  • While Duffy insists Newark remains safe for flights, the recurring outages have intensified scrutiny from lawmakers and the public.