KEY POINT SUMMARY โ Newark Tower Crises
โข Newark Tower Crises hit peak as only one certified ATC oversees airspace
โข Up to 180 flights scheduled with near-zero staffing Monday night
โข FAA under fire after radar failures and traumatic leave claims
โข Duffy slams Buttigieg for botched Philly TRACON transition
โข Trump unveils multibillion-dollar fix to national air traffic system
Newark Tower Crises Push Airport Safety to Breaking Point
The Newark Tower Crises have spiraled into a full-blown safety emergency as The Post confirms just one fully certified air traffic controller (ATC) was scheduled to manage up to 180 takeoffs and landings Monday night. A trainee would be the only support, far short of the 15-person standard required to safely operate Newark Liberty International Airport during peak hours.
โThis is pure insanity,โ one anonymous ATC told The Post. โOne controller canโt possibly monitor five radarscopes and manage incoming and outgoing flights across the New York metro area.โ
FAA Scrambles as Whistleblowers Raise Alarms
Originally, Newark was at risk of a โzero ATC eventโ โ meaning no one would show up. The last-minute return of an off-duty controller avoided a total shutdown, but insiders say this still isnโt enough to prevent delays and safety risks. The FAA confirmed at least three people would be present, but refused to specify how many were fully certified.
The control tower typically divides operations between five radarscopes. But with just one qualified controller on duty, that person must juggle all incoming and outgoing traffic solo โ covering not just Newark, but smaller airports nearby.
โIf we fall below seven, safety is compromised,โ said the source. โOne to three controllers is reckless.โ
Newark Tower Crises Blamed on Past Leadership
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed former Secretary Pete Buttigieg for the chaos. โThis is a result of the prior administrationโs failure to manage the transition of Newarkโs airspace to the Philadelphia TRACON last year,โ Duffy said in a press conference.
He said the shift to Philadelphia slashed staffing levels from 33 to fewer than 20. At least five controllers are reportedly on trauma leave following radar and communications failures earlier this month.
โMove the sector back to New York where the infrastructure exists and works,โ one whistleblower said. โItโs that simple, but the union is blocking it.โ
Backup Tech Weeks Away as Gridlock Worsens
Duffy announced that new fiber optic links and a software update will create redundancy for radar outages. But those fixes wonโt arrive until late May.
United Airlines, which operates 68% of Newarkโs traffic, called the crisis unsustainable. CEO Scott Kirby said the FAA approves 80+ flights per hour in a system only built for 77 โ even in ideal conditions.
โThis math doesnโt work,โ he warned. โIt leads to gridlock, delays, and safety risks.โ
The FAA has since proposed a limit of 56 operations per hour at Newark, a drastic cut to relieve pressure on exhausted controllers.
Trumpโs Bold Air Traffic Fix Unveiled
While the Newark Tower Crises rage on, the Trump Administration has introduced a sweeping plan to modernize the national air traffic control system.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the plan includes six new air traffic control centers, over 600 radar replacements, and modern wireless and satellite technology upgrades.
โThese systems are decades out of date,โ she said. โThe new plan creates a unified software platform for all control towers nationwide.โ
As FAA officials and airline executives prepare to meet Wednesday to discuss urgent Newark flight cuts, the spotlight remains on how long the busiest airspace in America can operate on fumes.
