• Newark Airport experienced its second radar outage in two weeks, lasting about 90 seconds.
• The FAA attributes ongoing delays and cancellations to technology and staffing issues.
• United Airlines has cut flight schedules due to the disruptions and chronic staffing shortages.
• Transportation Secretary announced a multibillion-dollar plan to overhaul air traffic control systems.
• Concerns about safety and the need for modernization are mounting among lawmakers and officials.

Early Friday morning, Newark Liberty International Airport suffered its second radar outage in just two weeks, further compounding the travel disruptions at one of the busiest airports in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the outage occurred at approximately 3:55 a.m. and lasted about 90 seconds, affecting communications and radar displays at the Philadelphia air traffic control facility that manages operations for Newark. This follows a similar incident on April 28 which already led to significant delays and cancellations, according to Newsweek and Business Insider.

The outages have resulted in ongoing challenges for airlines and passengers alike. United Airlines indicated that it had to suspend 35 daily flights in response to continued difficulties with air traffic control, runway construction, and inadequate staffing levels. CEO Scott Kirby emphasized the need for rescheduling operations, stating, “It's now clear... that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there,” as noted in CBS News and India Times.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced a multibillion-dollar plan aimed at modernizing the U.S. air traffic control system, a move that is critical in preventing such outages from occurring in the future. The initiative seeks investments in new technology, replacing outdated systems that have contributed to worsening air traffic issues at Newark airport. Duffy noted that the country needs to address these longstanding safety issues with urgency in light of increased flight delays and cancellations, as reported by HuffPost and The New York Times.

As the Newark airport navigates these challenges, officials are calling significant attention to the aging infrastructure. Lawmakers have pointed out that Newark’s air traffic control features technology and systems that date back several decades. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer emphasized, “This region... is running off a tower that's full of copper wire dating back to the 1980s,” indicating the urgent need for technological upgrades, which have been echoed across multiple sources including CBS News and India Times.