‘It is not safe’: Prime U.S. aiport drowning in deadly chaos, air traffic controllers warn to ‘avoid’ it all costs

After a week of thousands of delays and more than 800 canceled flights at Newark Liberty Airport, the facility has now officially been branded unsafe.

The crisis began just over a week ago when air traffic controllers’ radar screens went dark mid-operation — right as they were briefing pilots on flight paths for landing, takeoff, and maintaining separation. Without these tools, controllers struggled to track aircraft – on April 28, there was a terrifying 90-second window where air traffic controllers were left without radar and communications, which left them incapable of stopping any midlife collisions, runway incursions, or other emergecies. For a handful of already overburdened staff, this became a breaking point: They promptly requested “trauma leave” and are now effectively out of commission for 45 days.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy voiced support for the air traffic controllers, saying the situation reflects “cracks showing” in an aging, outdated air traffic system. Speaking on Fox News, Duffy promised a radical overhaul — including new equipment, upgraded infrastructure, and a wave of new hires. He added that the Trump administration plans to formally announce these measures on Thursday, May 8.

The President and I are going to radically transform air traffic control. That means building a brand new system that is the envy of the world.

Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/wlhQDbMMMY

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) May 6, 2025

But on the ground, the crisis appears far more urgent than any primetime interview suggests. CNN reports that United Airlines has already canceled 35 round-trip flights to Newark Liberty, with the company’s CEO citing a 20% walkout rate among airport employees. Canceling routes, he said, is the only way to keep passengers safe. United would probably just prefer to focus on reminding pilots to carry all their belongings and avoid U-turns during scheduled flights.

United’s cautious approach is understandable, though, given how rough the aviation industry has had it lately. The crash at Toronto Pearson is still fresh in many minds, and some airlines now seem unwilling to risk operating in anything less than ideal conditions.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph reports that one air traffic controller went on record warning travelers to “avoid Newark at all costs” since its airport is “not safe.” It’s not an overreaction — especially in a year that has already seen a runway collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. After all, preventing collisions is precisely what air traffic controllers are hired to do.

At a press conference, Secretary Duffy acknowledged that the U.S. air traffic system is currently short 3,000 workers. In response, the government is offering incentives: bonuses for completing air traffic control training and for accepting posts at hard-to-staff locations. Newark is one such location. In a bid to relieve pressure, the FAA is also relocating a key facility from Long Island to Philadelphia.

But until May 8 — and possibly well beyond — air traffic controllers are still raising alarms. One told NBC, “It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public.”

As for others in the industry, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told reporters, “Our industry is safe,” but quickly added, “The area we have to focus on is air traffic control.”

Hopefully, Thursday will bring a measured and reassuring update. We’re reaching a point where plane crashes are no longer shocking incidents but familiar tragedies. Streamlining the air traffic control system is a crucial first step — and perhaps fixing the Boeing situation should follow — so that the flying public can once again feel safe in the skies.