Air traffic controllers for Newark Liberty International Airport have recently experienced several frightening incidents. Their radars and radios have gone dark, potentially risking the lives of hundreds of passengers. The resulting chaos and delays are forcing government officials to address staffing shortages and outdated tech at the Newark facility, and nationwide. WSJ’s aviation reporter Andrew Tangel talks with one air traffic controller about the difficulties of the job. Annie Minoff hosts. Further Listening: -Your Flight Delay Is Probably New York’s Fault -The Life and Death of a Boeing Whistleblower Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Over the last few weeks, a crisis has unfolded just outside New York City at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Controllers losing communications with packed passenger planes approaching for landing and planes taking off.
In late April, the radios that controllers used to talk to airplanes went silent. And the radar they used to guide the planes suddenly went dark.
unable to see, hear, or talk to the pilots of the aircraft they were monitoring.
Controllers were in the dark for a harrowing 90 seconds. Then last week, it happened again. Another outage earlier this morning. And then just a few days ago, another malfunction. Another technical issue at Newark Airport today forcing a 45-minute ground stop, leading to more delays and cancellations. Government officials say they're working to fix the equipment problems.
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.
My name is Jonathan Stewart. I'm an air traffic controller. I received my first rating in 2000. Excuse my voice. Apparently, I'm losing an occupational hazard. I don't think anybody wants to be involved in any sort of incident where safety is compromised. Nobody wants to be involved in that. It's not on anybody's wish list.
So yes, under a lot of stress, under duress, yes, you don't want to be involved in any kind of incident where there's a loss of life.
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.
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