Old as Dust: Outdated Tech at Newark Airport Causes Recurring Security Mishaps
Unauthorized Access at Newark Airport Near New York: Another Significant Security Incident
Let's face it, Newark Liberty International Airport, serving up chaos right outside New York, has been dealing with some seriously outdated tech — some of it dating all the way back to the 1960s. And guess what? It's been causing quite the ruckus recently.
You might have heard about that security debacle that happened a couple of weeks ago, yep, the one where air traffic controllers lost contact with pilots for 90 seconds, causing a world of problems for landing and taking off aircraft. That mess actually happened again last Friday, leaving folks questioning if we've learned nothing from the past.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the repeat incident, and it seems like they're not happy about it either. In fact, on Thursday, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a major overhaul of the US's air traffic control system. So, it looks like they're finally recognizing the problem and planning to upgrade their clunky technology by the end of 2028.
Newark isn't the only airport in the New York metropolitan area that’s feeling the heat. With reduced capacity and higher demand, air safety is turning into quite the hot topic. Remember that devastating aircraft crash in late January at the national airport in Washington, DC? Sixty-seven souls perished in that unfortunate incident.
So, what's really behind the recurring security lapses at Newark? The outdated technology, combined with a severe shortage of air traffic controllers, has been taking its toll. This worn-out infrastructure hasn't been keeping up with modern aviation demands and safety standards. And it's no secret that the FAA missed the memo on upgrading Newark's technology and addressing its staffing crisis, causing repeated technology failures and operational disruptions.
But don't worry, the FAA and airport authorities are making moves to modernize the tech and restore a qualified workforce. Upgrades include replacing the 1960s equipment with advanced, digital systems designed to improve communication reliability and data sharing. These improvements are aimed at reducing outages, enhancing flight tracking precision, and increasing overall operational safety to avoid incidents like the recent debacles.
And as for the staffing crisis? Recruiting, training, and retaining new controllers are key to restoring workforce levels and ensuring the airport can handle its traffic demands. Airlines like United have even had to temporarily scale back their flight schedules to allow for these modernization and staffing solutions to take effect.
In short, the old ATC technology at Newark Airport and a depleted workforce have caused cash-grab chaos. But with modernization plans in the works, the airport could soon be cruising toward safer skies and increased operational capacity. [1][3][5]
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
- "FAA blames technical issue, not ATC staffing, for most recent incident at Newark Liberty International Airport" ABC News, April 30, 2025
- "Newark Airport communication issue: Passengers experience massive delays after systems fail" USA Today, April 30, 2025
- "Just how outdated is Newark Airport’s air traffic control system, and what's the plan to fix it?" NJ.com, May 1, 2025
- "Controllers report communication loss at Newark Airport due to ‘systemic failure,’ FAA says" USA Today, April 30, 2025
- "‘Overworked and understaffed': Newark Airport’s air traffic control system blamed after repeated issues" NJ.com, April 30, 2025
- The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed another security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport, causing operational disruptions. [outage]
- This incident occurred despite the FAA's plans to upgrade the airport's outdated technology by the end of 2028. [upgrade]
- In light of the problems at Newark Airport, the FAA's air traffic control overhaul is now also being discussed in general news and crime-and-justice sections. [politics]
- With various screenings and safety checks, it's essential for airports like Newark to maintain high security standards, especially with sensitive US airport locations and the increasing potential for security breaches on platforms like WhatsApp. [security breach, US airport, Newark]
