A veteran air traffic controller issued a dire warning about conditions at Newark Liberty International Airport, calling the current environment “not safe” for travelers due to severe staffing shortages. The warning, shared by MSNBC correspondent Tom Costello on Friday, highlights mounting concerns over aviation safety as the nation’s controller workforce struggles to keep pace with demand.
In a candid conversation, the unnamed controller urged travelers to avoid Newark altogether. “He just looked at me and said, ‘It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,’” Costello reported. “Then, unsolicited, he told me, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
Newark Liberty, one of the country’s busiest airports, has been experiencing significant flight delays and cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) attributes these disruptions to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, a problem plaguing airports nationwide.
According to Costello, the United States is currently short around 3,000 controllers, and hiring efforts are barely outpacing retirements. “They know they need to staff up. They’ve been trying to fix this for years,” he said. “But it’s an uphill battle.”
In response to the crisis, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited the Newark control tower Friday, accompanied by the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The visit aimed to calm nerves among both controllers and the flying public. Duffy has recently introduced a series of hiring incentives and retention bonuses to encourage new recruits to join and stay in the profession.
Despite these efforts, Costello cautioned that the road to resolution will be long. “This is not going to be an easy fix by any means,” he said.
Meanwhile, Newark Liberty issued a public advisory on X (formerly Twitter), warning travelers to expect continued disruptions. “Flights at @EWRairport continue to be disrupted due to @FAA staffing shortages, with delays and cancellations expected to continue throughout the day,” the post read.
As the summer travel season approaches, the situation at Newark—and at other major airports—may test the limits of the air traffic control system and the patience of travelers alike.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.