Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP / Getty Images
Newark Liberty International Airport is working to recover from significant flight disruptions that occurred yesterday (April 28). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a combination of equipment and staffing issues led to widespread delays and diversions of flights. According to FOX Weather, the problems began with an equipment failure at the FAA's Philadelphia TRACON, which manages air traffic for Newark. This resulted in a ground stop at Newark Airport from 1:53 p.m. to at least 5 p.m.
The technical issues were resolved by 4 p.m., but staffing shortages at the Philadelphia operations center continued to affect flight schedules. As a result, many flights were delayed or diverted to other airports. NBC New York reported that United Airlines, which operates a hub at Newark, diverted more than 35 flights and delayed others at their departure points. By 4:30 p.m., there were 242 delays and 60 cancellations at the airport.
FlightAware, a flight tracking service, indicated that the disruptions continued into today, with dozens of flights canceled or delayed. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updated flight information. The situation is gradually improving, but delays are still expected as the airport works to return to normal operations.