Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport faced additional issues and delays on Thursday.
It seems the issues arise from three distinct challenges: a scarcity of air traffic control personnel, adverse weather conditions elsewhere in the nation, and ongoing work being done on one of the runways.
United Airlines stated on Thursday that ongoing issues in Newark are being caused by a mix of factors including limited air traffic control personnel, Federal Aviation Administration system failures, runway work, and strong winds.
The airlines mentioned that they redirected 21 flights to alternative airports and caused delays for departures from those same airports.
Chris Rocheleau, the acting administrator of the FAA, states that there is still work that needs to be accomplished.
He stated that ensuring the durability of the equipment for daily-working operators is essential, allowing them to rely on their tools and guaranteeing proper training.
On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed expanding the training program for new air traffic controllers, who occupy critical but consistently undermanned roles known for their high pressure. These positions have proven particularly challenging to staff in the New York region, home to some of the globe’s busiest skies.
“You’re beginning to notice flaws within the system, and it’s our responsibility not to wait for a catastrophe. Instead, we should look ahead and address these issues before we have an accident that we’ll deeply lament,” Duffy stated.
Duffy is anticipated to unveil a strategy for overhauling air traffic control systems the following week.
On Thursday at some stage, the typical arrival time at Newark experienced delays exceeding five hours, with an average departure delay of about 85 minutes. A minimum of 169 flights were canceled, and another 332 faced delays.
Around 1 a.m., there was a short disruption in the air traffic control radio frequency, which led to flights destined for Newark being redirected.
It comes after
Monday’s ground stop
These problems were also due to equipment failures. The malfunctions occurred at the FAA airspace operations center in Philadelphia, exacerbating the delays in Newark that were already occurring because of runway work and air traffic control personnel shortages.
Josh Kramer was in a Lyft on his way back home to Bergen County from Washington, D.C. after his flight from New Orleans to Newark was diverted to Dulles Airport in D.C. He was supposed to land at Newark around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
We remained on the tarmac from about 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. since the airport doesn’t officially open until 4 o’clock,” Kramer explained. “Then, around 3:40 a.m., they began organizing things, and we were directed to park our aircraft.
Kramer is merely one among thousands for whom travel plans took a terrible turn.
Dan Donohoe is heading to his son’s wedding, however, his first flight from Los Angeles to Dallas had to be redirected because of adverse weather conditions.
Donohoe mentioned that they took a new flight departing from LAX, heading towards Newark and eventually Greenville. They remained grounded on the runway for one and a half hours due to reported problems with air traffic control equipment in Newark. By the time they arrived at their subsequent connecting flight destined for Greenville, they unfortunately missed it.
In the meantime, Minal Patel and her family are likewise finding it difficult to reach a wedding.
“When we reached the gate for boarding, they announced that the flight had been cancelled,” she explained. “They didn’t provide any alternative flights and simply told us to return to the luggage carousels to retrieve our belongings.” She sighed, adding, “This completely spoiled my entire weekend.”
The Port Authority states that Newark is working together to assist individuals affected by the delays and cancellations.
Once more, the airlines are requesting from the FAA an extension of a waiver implemented a few years back. This waiver permits them to operate a reduced number of flights into New York City without facing penalties.
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