Flights have resumed to normal operations following weeks of disruptions caused by radar failures and communication issues impacting air traffic control, primarily affecting Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest Airlines has eased change and refund policies for passengers impacted by the delays.
The disruptions stemmed from repeated failures in a telecommunications line between Long Island, New York, and Philadelphia, causing air traffic controllers to lose contact with flights approaching or departing Newark. On April 28, a cable failure resulted in 30 seconds of radio silence and 90 seconds of lost radar signal, triggering 45 days of trauma leave for five FAA employees and thousands of delayed flights.Three subsequent cuts occurred before a new fiber optic cable was activated.
Southwest Airlines stated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that they were ”resuming normal operations and [would] do everything possible to minimize more delays,” according to airline spokesman Lynn Linsford. The airline also relaxed rules for passengers seeking to change travel dates or receive refunds.
The incidents have prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to urge Congress to support a plan for a completely new air traffic control system, estimated to cost billions of dollars. “It is indeed considerable work and will require a considerable amount of money,” Duffy said earlier this year. The aging infrastructure highlights the need for modernization to prevent future disruptions to air travel.
