Staffing issues lead to ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport

Rytis Beresnevičius from Simple Flying reported on the repairs of EWR’s runway 4L/22R, which was closed for three months. Repairs finished two weeks early, pleasing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), which manages EWR. Although testing allowed departures on the newly opened runway, it did not resolve the traffic bottleneck caused by ATC system and staffing issues.

An anonymous air traffic controller from EWR expressed frustration in an NPR interview: "It was like disbelief. And then it was just like fury, honestly, like how could they have us working this, you know?"

Communication systems experienced failures lasting up to 90 seconds during recent flight operations at EWR. Both primary and backup systems failed, causing frequent radio silence and adding pressure on controllers who already face a demanding job.

Five controllers have taken trauma leave, while another is on medical leave, leaving only 16 controllers and five supervisors available. Despite these challenges, Secretary Sean Duffy from the US Department Of Transportation stated that Newark aims for certification of its repaired runway by June 10.

FlightAware live data showed five cancellations and 103 delays out of all scheduled flights at Newark Liberty International on Wednesday. The situation requires improvements in infrastructure, systems, and staffing.

The FAA continues its efforts to ensure aviation safety across US airspace with its team of professionals providing essential services. Without additional support soon, more busy airports may face similar challenges in maintaining safety standards.