Newark airport blackout last week lasted 60-90 seconds, the ATC screen became dark: source

Extinguishing at Newark Liberty International Airport last Monday Causing a computer screen control of air traffic Dark for about 60 to 90 seconds, according to various sources with knowledge of the incident. It prevents the controller from talking to the plane so far.

In the air traffic control recording obtained by ABC News, you can hear the air traffic controller who tells the pilot that “the approach to losing all radar. Three of the four radar screens become black and they have no frequency.”

As a result, the Federal flight administration stopped all departures to Newark Airport, quoting “telecommunications problems and equipment in Philadelphia Tracon.” This is an air traffic control facility that directs aircraft in and out of Newark airport.

After the extinguisher, some controllers went on medical leave, calling the experience as a traumatic event. Controllers are entitled to at least 45 days of work and must be evaluated by doctors before they can return to work.

“Because of the event, the controller was not under the Federal Employee Compensation Law. This program included all federal employees who were physically injured or experienced traumatic events at work,” said the union representing air traffic controller in a Monday statement.

The controlling facility works in the airspace around Newark Airport is located in Philadelphia and has become a short air traffic control. The current shortage has forced airlines to postpone flights for hours for the past eight days.

“Telecommunications equipment and blackouts that can often stress for controller,” FAA said in a statement on Monday. “Some controller in Philadelphia Tracon who worked on newcomers and departure has taken leave to recover from the pressure of some of the new blackouts. While we cannot quickly replace it because of this very special profession, we continue to train the controller which will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace.”

Flight cancellation has increased in Newark after blackouts, according to data from Cirium, a flight analysis company. Since April 26, on average 39 flights per day have been canceled, compared to the average four flights per day canceled in April, according to Cirium. Timely performance is also degraded; Newark departure averaged about 80% on time before April 26 and since then dropped to 63%, under the norms of industrial norms, the feature was found.

United Airlines deleted 35 round trip flights per day to help ease congestion and reduce the impact on its customers. At 15:30 Monday, the flight arrived four hours delayed averaged to Newark.

“This special air traffic control facility has been chronically short of staff for many years and without this controller, now clearly – and FAA tells us – that Newark Airport cannot handle the number of aircraft scheduled to operate there in the next few weeks and months,” CEO United Scott Kirby wrote in a letter to a letter to customers. “United are committed to doing everything that is very in our strength to minimize the impact that will occur on customers so that we unilaterally cancel 35 flights back and forth per day from our Newark schedule starting this weekend.”

Kirby continued, “Disappointing to do further cuts for a reduced schedule in Newark, but because there is no way to solve short -term FAA structural staff problems, we feel there is no other choice to protect our customers.”

United Airlines issued a “flexibility” trip that allows passengers to travel to and from Newark Airport to reschedule their journey without additional costs.

The postponement of nightmares at Newark Airport is also a result of the postponement of the runway construction and bad weather in the Metro City of New York.

Newark is in place No. 1 of all airports in the world for postponement and cancellation on Monday afternoon.

“Our ancient air traffic control system influences our workforce,” Faa said in a Monday statement. “As [Transportation] Secretary [Sean] Duffy said, we must get the best safety technology in the hands of the controller as soon as possible. We work to ensure that telecommunications equipment is currently more reliable in the New York region by setting a more resilient and excessive configuration with local exchange operators. In addition, we update our automation system to increase resilience. “