Ryan Knutson

For instance, delays have sharply increased around Newark's airspace. United Airlines said that in November alone, travel for nearly 350,000 passengers was disrupted because of the shortage of air traffic controllers. The FAA says that hiring more air traffic controllers is a top priority.

and that relocating Newark's controllers to Philadelphia is a, quote, long-term solution to a long-term staffing challenge. But potentially more alarming are the tech issues that have cropped up, tech issues that have risked some close calls. That's after the break.

and that relocating Newark's controllers to Philadelphia is a, quote, long-term solution to a long-term staffing challenge. But potentially more alarming are the tech issues that have cropped up, tech issues that have risked some close calls. That's after the break.

and that relocating Newark's controllers to Philadelphia is a, quote, long-term solution to a long-term staffing challenge. But potentially more alarming are the tech issues that have cropped up, tech issues that have risked some close calls. That's after the break.

So far, moving oversight of Newark's airspace from New York to Philadelphia hasn't yet paid off. The Philadelphia setup is still short-staffed, and controllers are having to juggle multiple jobs. On top of that, the equipment that monitors the airplanes, like the radars, remains on Long Island, and the signal is now being transmitted to Philly. But that transmission hasn't always been reliable.

So far, moving oversight of Newark's airspace from New York to Philadelphia hasn't yet paid off. The Philadelphia setup is still short-staffed, and controllers are having to juggle multiple jobs. On top of that, the equipment that monitors the airplanes, like the radars, remains on Long Island, and the signal is now being transmitted to Philly. But that transmission hasn't always been reliable.

So far, moving oversight of Newark's airspace from New York to Philadelphia hasn't yet paid off. The Philadelphia setup is still short-staffed, and controllers are having to juggle multiple jobs. On top of that, the equipment that monitors the airplanes, like the radars, remains on Long Island, and the signal is now being transmitted to Philly. But that transmission hasn't always been reliable.

The first major tech outage happened back in August. On the Tuesday before Labor Day, which is a very busy travel period, a controller overseeing Newark had a harrowing experience.

The first major tech outage happened back in August. On the Tuesday before Labor Day, which is a very busy travel period, a controller overseeing Newark had a harrowing experience.

The first major tech outage happened back in August. On the Tuesday before Labor Day, which is a very busy travel period, a controller overseeing Newark had a harrowing experience.

So what does he do next? His radar screen goes black, and then what?

So what does he do next? His radar screen goes black, and then what?

So what does he do next? His radar screen goes black, and then what?

According to the FAA, the blackout lasted less than a few minutes, during which time the controller had to rely on his memory to guide two planes. And was he able to get the planes down safely?

According to the FAA, the blackout lasted less than a few minutes, during which time the controller had to rely on his memory to guide two planes. And was he able to get the planes down safely?

According to the FAA, the blackout lasted less than a few minutes, during which time the controller had to rely on his memory to guide two planes. And was he able to get the planes down safely?

How is it possible for something like this to happen?

How is it possible for something like this to happen?

How is it possible for something like this to happen?

The blackout was just the first of several tech glitches related to this big move. A few weeks later, in October, the system overloaded ahead of Columbus Day. Radars kept flickering, which confused controllers who saw aircraft bouncing around on their screens. There were also failures of the system that's supposed to warn about potentially dangerous winds. And then, last month, another scare.