Is it Safe to Fly to and from Newark Airport After Recent Equipment Failures?

After experiencing three equipment failures within a two-week period, causing radar and communication blackouts with aircraft, many are questioning the safety of flying to and from Newark Liberty International Airport.

During a press conference on Monday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Chris Rocheleau reassured the public that they believe the airport is safe.

Their statement comes amidst a recent report by The New York Times that revealed only three air traffic controllers were working at Newark Airport on a Monday evening, which is significantly lower than the targeted number for that time period.

Duffy, who resides in New Jersey and regularly flies out of Newark, expressed his confidence in the airport’s safety during the press conference.

Potential Fallout of Shutting Down Newark Airport During Upgrades

The idea of shutting down Newark Airport while air traffic control technology is being upgraded raises concerns about the potential economic impact.

According to Sheldon H. Jacobson, a professor and founder of the University of Illinois computer science program, Newark is one of the busiest airports in the United States, and such a closure would have a significant effect on the Northeast’s economy. It could also cripple United Airlines, which has a 58% market share at the airport.

Jacobson, who helped design the TSA’s airport Pre-check system, believes that shutting down Newark Airport should be a last resort, as we are nowhere near that level of danger.

Stats and