21 May 2025 , 18:22
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An air traffic controller from Philadelphia (USA) has revealed alarming details about technical failures and staff shortages at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The woman stated she will never fly from there again due to fears of aircraft collisions.
This was reported by the Daily Mail.
The anonymous controller called Newark Liberty (EWR) “the scariest airport” in the country, citing frequent technical malfunctions and a chronic lack of personnel. According to her, unless urgent action is taken, a fatal aircraft collision could occur.
The British tabloid reports that the controller was the only one on duty during a serious outage on May 9, when a power failure disabled radar and communication systems for 90 seconds, leaving four planes uncontrolled during that time. Similar incidents have reportedly happened before, with backup systems needing to be activated again in late April.
“I intentionally avoid my own airport when booking flights, even if the alternatives are more expensive or less convenient. If Newark’s issues aren’t fixed, it’s only a matter of time before a disaster happens. I consider it the most dangerous and terrifying airport to fly from,” she said.
Illustrative photo
Photo: Wikipedia
The air traffic controller shared that during the May 9 incident, she was working alone on her shift and felt extreme exhaustion. Suddenly, her radar went dark and all communication with aircraft was lost.
“Oh no, it’s happening again,” she thought, recalling similar system failures in recent months. Over the course of ten months, she recorded at least 12 technical issues — including a recent communications failure on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:35 a.m.
Following these incidents, she was even referred for a psychological evaluation, but she insists that her concerns are entirely valid.
“We have over 74,000 pieces of equipment. Yes, the system is outdated. When failures occur, we deliberately slow down air traffic for safety,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated.
World Affairs Correspondent