Newark Airport Outage Spurs Calls for FAA Upgrades

On April 28, air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport lost radar and radio communications for 90 seconds due to a failed copper wire, leaving them unable to see or speak with aircraft. The outage forced several controllers to take trauma leave, worsening existing staffing shortages. The incident resulted in over 1,500 flight delays and hundreds of cancellations, with United Airlines cutting 35 daily flights from Newark. The event spotlighted the FAA's ongoing reliance on obsolete technology, including copper wiring and floppy disks, and prompted renewed scrutiny of air traffic control infrastructure. Federal officials and union leaders have intensified calls for urgent system upgrades, while an Inspector General investigation into FAA operations at Newark is now underway. The episode highlights broader challenges in U.S. aviation, including both infrastructure vulnerabilities and chronic personnel shortages.