United CEO warns Newark Airport is unsafe as staffing crisis triggers flight chaos
By isabelle // 2025-05-06
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  • Newark Airport faces chaos for the seventh day, with flight delays, staffing shortages, and warnings from United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to avoid the airport due to safety concerns.
  • Air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact for 90 seconds, exposing outdated technology, while the FAA admits the system relies on obsolete infrastructure like "floppy disks."
  • United Airlines canceled 35 daily flights, citing an overwhelmed system, and Kirby warns Newark cannot handle current flight volumes, forcing reductions for safety.
  • A critical shortage of 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide worsens the crisis, with Newark’s facility chronically understaffed and stressed workers taking leave after the outage.
  • With runway construction and peak travel season approaching, passengers face extended delays, raising fears of a broader aviation system collapse due to neglected infrastructure.
For the seventh straight day, travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport faced chaos, with delayed flights, harried passengers, and a chilling warning from United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: Avoid Newark at all costs. The airport, one of the busiest in the nation, has become a flashpoint for America’s crumbling air traffic control infrastructure, with controllers losing radar contact, staffing shortages reaching critical levels, and airlines slashing flights in desperation. “It is not safe,” an unnamed Newark air traffic controller bluntly told NBC News’ Tom Costello in an unsolicited warning. “Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.” The dire assessment came as United Airlines canceled 35 daily round-trip flights, citing a system pushed beyond its limits. Kirby didn’t mince words: Newark “cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead.”

"We lost radar": A system on the brink

The crisis reached a breaking point on April 28, when air traffic controllers guiding planes into Newark lost radar and radio communications for roughly 90 seconds. Audio obtained by LiveATC.net captured the panic: “Approach, are you there?” a United pilot repeatedly called out before finally getting a response. The outage, blamed on antiquated technology, triggered a cascade of delays and diversions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted the system is held together by “floppy disks" and "copper wires,” calling it “incredibly old” and ill-equipped for modern air traffic. The FAA insists the skies remain safe, but only because it deliberately slows or grounds flights when controllers are overwhelmed.

Staffing shortages compound the chaos

The technology meltdown was exacerbated by what Kirby described as a walkout by 20% of Newark’s controllers, though the union disputes this, saying stressed workers took legally protected leave after the traumatic outage. Either way, the staffing crisis is undeniable. The U.S. faces a shortage of 3,000 controllers nationwide, with Newark’s facility “chronically understaffed for years,” according to Kirby. The FAA’s solution, which involved relocating some Newark controllers to Philadelphia, hasn’t fixed the problem. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy slammed the move, noting it has not "led to the desired outcome.” Meanwhile, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark, urged the FAA to “address ongoing staffing shortages and accelerate long-overdue technology upgrades.”

A summer of travel turmoil looms

With runway construction further straining operations and peak travel season approaching, United’s flight cuts may be just the beginning. The airline warned passengers to expect more disruptions, while the FAA imposed ground stops, causing delays of up to four hours. Travelers like Geraldine Wallace, stranded for three hours, voiced unease: “And so if they are understaffed and the people that are covering are going to be overtired, they’re doing longer shifts, as a flyer, that’s making me feel very nervous, actually.” The crisis underscores a broader failure to modernize U.S. aviation infrastructure. Duffy pledged a “brand-new” air traffic control system, but admitted it could take years. Until then, Newark and the passengers who rely on it remain at the mercy of a patchwork system teetering on collapse. Newark’s meltdown is more than a temporary inconvenience; it’s a warning. Between failing technology, exhausted controllers, and airlines forced to slash flights, the airport has become a symbol of America’s neglected aviation system. As Kirby put it, there’s “no other choice” but to reduce flights for safety’s sake. For travelers, the message is clear: buckle up. The turbulence isn’t ending anytime soon.   Sources for this article include: The-Sun.com CNBC.com NYPost.com CNN.com ABCNews.go.com
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