Newark Air Traffic Controllers lost short contact with aircraft, says Union, says Union

Air traffic controllers on Newark Liberty International Airport briefly lost communication with aircraft under their control, “unable to see, hear or belong to them” last week, said a spokesperson for the Union.

The incident of 28 April led to several employees on trauma leave, which contributed to hundreds of delayed or diverted flights. More than 150 flights have only been canceled on Monday, according to the Tracking website Flightaware.

The airport, one of the busiest hubs in New York, has been struggling with staff shortages for more than a week.

The Federal Aviation Administration recognized in a statement that “our outdated air traffic control system influences our workforce”.

The confirmation of the controllers had taken leave after the incident, the FAA said it “they could not replace quickly”.

“We continue to train controllers that will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace,” said the explanation.

Air traffic control operations at the airport have recently been entertaining criticism.

Last week United Airlines announced that it canceled 35 flights per day from its Newark schedule because the airport “cannot treat the number of airplanes that is planned there”.

“In the last few days, more than once, failed technology on which FAA Air Traffic Controllers trust to manage the aircraft coming in and out of Newark airport, which resulted in dozens of diverted flights, said hundreds of delayed and canceled flights,” said United CEO Scott Kirby.

He also said that the problems were “exacerbated” because more than 20% of the FAA controllers “of work ran”.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that employees took leave under facilities for employees who experience a traumatic event at work.

The union would not say how many controllers had taken leave, or how long they lost contact with aircraft.

The Newark incident comes as the US Department of Transport last week revealed a package that was designed to stimulate the number of FAA air traffic controllers.

“The package will enable more of the best and smartest candidates to get into air traffic facilities and to work faster, and to increase the preservation of experienced controllers,” said the FAA.

The transport department said it was on its way to hire at least 2,000 controllers this year.

In February, the Trump administration started to fire hundreds of FAA employeesweeks after a fatal collision in the air in Washington DC.

The agency said it would continue to hire and on board air traffic controllers and safety professionals.