Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing a shaky ride filled with chaos. The airport is experiencing major operational challenges due to staffing shortages and air traffic control failures. These challenges are spreading to other airports because of systemic issues with air traffic control. Just weeks ago, on May 9th, the Newark airport experienced a 90-second communication outage. May 20th, it experienced its 4th communication outage. The Hobby, LaGuardia, and Denver airports have all been affected in different ways, all dangerously affecting their technology and communication.
Hobby Airport in Houston witnessed a scary situation when the power failed at one of the air control towers. On May 17th, 1:15 pm, the air traffic control tower lost complete control of its flights and staff. Backup generators started up, getting an eye back on the sky. This resulted in multiple flights being canceled or delayed. The Federal Aviation Administration announced all power was up and running around 2:15 pm. The airport has been confirmed “fully operational.”. Once again, the cause of the incident is unknown and is currently under investigation.
The LaGuardia Airport in New York had to cancel a plane takeoff due to a near collision with a United Airlines plane, still waiting on the runway. There was a miscommunication with the controlling towers, despite being connected to the same servers. The airport is equipped with advanced technology, including an ASDS radar system, which is designed to prevent collisions by tracking airplanes. This event is a clear example of a communication breakdown, and it prompted the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the situation.
Similarly, the Denver International Airport experienced a blackout, losing all communication. May 12th, 20-plus aircrafts endured a 6-minute blackout due to radio outages. Both transmitters went down, and pilots lost communication with the airport for 90 seconds. Coincidentally, exactly a month before, Boeing 737-800 was en route to Dallas-Fort Worth, coming from Colorado Springs. The aircraft was diverted to Denver after staff reported violent shaking. The plane landed safely at Denver airport before bursting into flames. The little staff at the Denver airport had to try and rescue all 172 passengers with emergency slides. Many were hospitalized with minor injuries. Once again, the FAA and NTSB are investigating the situation.
Recent incidents at major airports like Newark, The Hobby, LaGuardia, and Denver have reported systemic issues in infrastructure regarding their technology. Staffing issues also appeared upon further investigation. In response, multiple regulatory aviation companies have prompted detailed investigations due to recent power outages and other incidents. As summer comes up, more travelers will start to become impatient. Multiple flights have been delayed and/or cancelled, leaving everyone wondering how this issue will be solved and how it could have spread in the first place.
