Air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport has been severely disrupted after multiple air traffic controllers took government-approved trauma leave following a communications breakdown. The incident occurred on April 28, 2025, when controllers at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control lost radar and communication capabilities with several aircraft heading into Newark.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that controllers couldn’t see, hear, or guide aircraft during the failure. This issue came from a total loss of connectivity between FAA radar systems and radio frequencies for flight management. As a result, at least five FAA employees took a 45-day leave under federal trauma guidelines.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognized the issue. They pointed to their old air traffic control system as the cause. The agency is working to upgrade systems and secure communications in the New York area. However, delays and cancellations continued into the second week, affecting thousands of travelers. 
On May 5, 2025, 160 flights were canceled, and 375 were delayed. The FAA warned of ongoing disruptions. Audio recordings captured tense moments between pilots and controllers during the outage. One United Airlines pilot tried five times to reach a controller. In another instance, a controller stated, “We lost our radar… I don’t know where you are.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby claimed that over 20% of FAA controllers at Newark “walked off the job.” The air traffic controllers’ union explained that the leave was legal. It was taken under the Federal Employees Compensation Act because of job-related trauma.
The Philadelphia TRACON facility has long faced staffing shortages, worsening the incident’s impact. The FAA said the profession is specialized, making quick replacements hard. Training efforts continue.
Experts warn that the situation raises serious safety and operational concerns. Peter Goelz, a past managing director at the National Transportation Safety Board, called the delays “ridiculous.”” He warned that limited resources and stressed staff might harm flight safety.
While no accidents occurred, the event exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. air traffic control system. Comprehensive solutions, such as updating infrastructure and fixing staffing shortages, can take years to complete.
