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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a brief ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday (May 11) morning due to a telecommunications issue. The ground stop lasted approximately 45 minutes and affected dozens of flights, leading to cancellations and delays. This marks the third equipment-related problem at the airport in two weeks.
The FAA confirmed that the issue originated from a telecommunications problem at the Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which manages aircraft entering and exiting Newark's airspace. As a precaution, the FAA temporarily slowed down air traffic to ensure that all systems were functioning correctly before resuming normal operations. The FAA stated, "Operations have returned to normal," without providing further details, according to Fox Business.
The incident follows another disruption two days earlier when radar screens briefly went dark, prompting air traffic controllers to instruct at least one pilot to maintain an altitude of 3,000 feet in case of communication loss. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported 70 flight cancellations at Newark in the last 24 hours.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby addressed the situation, emphasizing the importance of safety and the challenges posed by such disruptions. Kirby reassured the public, stating, "It's the safest way to travel by far," and highlighted the aviation industry's commitment to safety.
The FAA plans to hold a "scheduling reduction meeting" on Wednesday to address ongoing issues at Newark, despite previous efforts to scale back flights at the airport. Meanwhile, the FAA also reported a temporary slowdown of arrivals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to a separate runway equipment issue.