Annie Minoff

And the CEO of United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, has personally tried to reassure the public. In an email to customers, he said that it is, quote, absolutely safe to fly out of the airport. But there's another voice that you don't often hear from after incidents like this. The people on the front lines of air safety. And this week, the Journal sat down with one of them.

And the CEO of United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, has personally tried to reassure the public. In an email to customers, he said that it is, quote, absolutely safe to fly out of the airport. But there's another voice that you don't often hear from after incidents like this. The people on the front lines of air safety. And this week, the Journal sat down with one of them.

And the CEO of United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, has personally tried to reassure the public. In an email to customers, he said that it is, quote, absolutely safe to fly out of the airport. But there's another voice that you don't often hear from after incidents like this. The people on the front lines of air safety. And this week, the Journal sat down with one of them.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Annie Minoff. It's Thursday, May 15th. Coming up on the show, the chaos at Newark through the eyes of an air traffic controller.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Annie Minoff. It's Thursday, May 15th. Coming up on the show, the chaos at Newark through the eyes of an air traffic controller.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Annie Minoff. It's Thursday, May 15th. Coming up on the show, the chaos at Newark through the eyes of an air traffic controller.

That's aviation reporter Andrew Tangle. He sat down with air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart earlier this week to talk about what's been going on at Newark. The circumstances of their conversation were a bit unusual. As the interview kicked off, Jonathan smoked a cigar while gunfire went off in the background.

That's aviation reporter Andrew Tangle. He sat down with air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart earlier this week to talk about what's been going on at Newark. The circumstances of their conversation were a bit unusual. As the interview kicked off, Jonathan smoked a cigar while gunfire went off in the background.

That's aviation reporter Andrew Tangle. He sat down with air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart earlier this week to talk about what's been going on at Newark. The circumstances of their conversation were a bit unusual. As the interview kicked off, Jonathan smoked a cigar while gunfire went off in the background.

Jonathan has been in air traffic control for 25 years. He started his career in the Air Force in the late 90s.

Jonathan has been in air traffic control for 25 years. He started his career in the Air Force in the late 90s.

Jonathan has been in air traffic control for 25 years. He started his career in the Air Force in the late 90s.

Jonathan describes airspace like the layers of a cake, with each layer managed by a dedicated team of controllers. The people in the towers at the airport, they're in charge of the bottom layer, where the planes take off and touch down. But Jonathan, he's in the layer above that. He's what's known as a radar controller.

Jonathan describes airspace like the layers of a cake, with each layer managed by a dedicated team of controllers. The people in the towers at the airport, they're in charge of the bottom layer, where the planes take off and touch down. But Jonathan, he's in the layer above that. He's what's known as a radar controller.

Jonathan describes airspace like the layers of a cake, with each layer managed by a dedicated team of controllers. The people in the towers at the airport, they're in charge of the bottom layer, where the planes take off and touch down. But Jonathan, he's in the layer above that. He's what's known as a radar controller.

This video game is especially intense at Newark, which is some of the busiest airspace in the world.

This video game is especially intense at Newark, which is some of the busiest airspace in the world.

This video game is especially intense at Newark, which is some of the busiest airspace in the world.

But lately, Jonathan says that he and other controllers have been pushed beyond their limits. Throughout the country, air traffic control facilities are understaffed. The FAA has almost 11,000 fully certified controllers, but that's about 3,000 short of its target.

But lately, Jonathan says that he and other controllers have been pushed beyond their limits. Throughout the country, air traffic control facilities are understaffed. The FAA has almost 11,000 fully certified controllers, but that's about 3,000 short of its target.