Air traffic control issues are continuing at the busy Newark International Airport after a frightening incident in April when the tower briefly lost communication with all planes. Some pilots estimated the contact was lost for over 90 seconds, leading to NY Senator Chuck Schumer saying:
“That’s 90 seconds of a wholly filled-up sky of planes literally flying blind over one of America’s busiest airports. Thank God nothing happened, but we tempt fate if no changes are made.”
Listen in:
“Approach, are you there?” one pilot arriving from New Orleans says, to no response. After five further attempts, over thirty seconds, the tower responds: “I got you loud and clear.”
At another point, the control tower tells a United Airlines pilot: “I am gonna move you here because I just got told that the approach lost all the radars.”
“Three of their four radar screens went black and they have no frequencies.”
The pilot is heard calmly responding: “Alright, we’re ready to move.”
