The Daily A Frightening Moment to Fly
635 snips
May 8, 2025 
Kate Kelly, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, sheds light on a critical failure in Newark Airport's air traffic safety systems that left communication blacked out for planes. She discusses the chaos that ensued, highlighting the outdated technology and staffing struggles impacting operational safety. Kelly emphasizes the growing anxiety around air travel as public confidence dwindles after recent incidents. The conversation brings attention to the urgent need for innovation and better safeguards in the nation's air traffic control.
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Controllers' Harrowing Outage Experience
- During a 90-second outage at Newark, radar screens went dark and radios went silent, leaving controllers unable to see or communicate with planes.
- Controllers resorted to landline calls and visual checks, hoping to prevent crashes without their usual technology.
90 Seconds Can Mean Disaster
- Ninety seconds without radar or radio is dangerously long in air traffic control given needed aircraft separation.
- Planes can drift into each other's path without controller guidance, risking collision rapidly.
Data Pit Stop Adds Vulnerabilities
- Newark air traffic control data reroutes through Long Island to Philadelphia, adding latency and system vulnerability.
- This indirect data feed method creates delays and potential failure points in critical communications.