- Another outage of air traffic control radar and communications equipment happened at Newark airport in the early hours of May 9.
- The airport has been struggling with mass delays and cancellations after a similar outage happened on April 28.
- For travelers who are nervous about flying into the hub, some airlines are offering the option to change flights at no charge.
Just days after air traffic control communications and staffing levels caused cancellations and delays at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), there has been another communications outage at the New Jersey airport, an FAA spokesperson confirmed to Travel + Leisure.
“There was a telecommunications outage that impacted communications and radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace,” an FAA spokesperson shared in a statement to T+L. ”The outage occurred around 3:55 a.m. on Friday, May 9, and lasted approximately 90 seconds.”
According to FlightAware data, there were several commercial and cargo flights that landed between 3:07 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. EDT, however no safety or mechanical issues have been reported on those flights.
“That’s absolutely terrifying,” one traveler shared in a Reddit post about the recent incidents.
The news comes just days after the FAA acknowledged recent issues and said they would be “slowing arrivals and departures” at the airport to ease congestion and manage safety. The Department of Transportation also said they would be working toward additional hiring of air traffic controllers, and technology upgrades of antiquated systems.
“The FAA is taking immediate steps to improve the reliability of operations at Newark Liberty International Airport,” the FAA said at the time. “This includes accelerating technological and logistical improvements and increasing air traffic controller staffing.”
For travelers who feel uncomfortable flying into Newark airport, airlines are providing additional flexibility with travel waivers. For example, passengers on United Airlines booked to fly to or through Newark from May 6, 2025-May 23, 2025 can reschedule their trip or fly to nearby airports such as LaGuardia (LGA) or Philadelphia (PHL), according to a recent advisory.
JetBlue is also offering a waiver on flights through May 14, and the option to rebook to fly to the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates, or follow Travel + Leisure on social media.
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