Air Traffic Controller Left ‘Traumatized’, Placed on Leave After Terrifying Blackout

A veteran air traffic controller says she was left shaken and traumatized after a sudden 90-second system blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this month — a terrifying event that’s now raised serious concerns about aviation safety and staffing shortages at one of America’s busiest airports.

The 39-year-old New York-based controller, speaking anonymously to The Times, said the nightmare unfolded around 4 a.m. on May 9, during the final overnight shift of her week. She was the only controller working traffic when, without warning, all of her radar and communication systems went dark.

“Suddenly, all my frequencies cut out. Then my radar scope went dark and I could no longer see the dozens of planes that had dotted my screen seconds earlier,” she said. “I had no way of tracking where any of the four aircraft I had been speaking to were — and no means to reach them.”

Though she was able to locate a functioning radar scope and eventually reestablish contact after the 90-second outage, the experience left her so rattled that she was placed on trauma leave the next day. She’s now undergoing psychological evaluation and has not returned to work.

This wasn’t the first time Newark’s system had failed. Just weeks earlier, a similar blackout on April 28 forced five controllers into 45-day trauma leave. And another outage reportedly happened again on May 11, just two days after her incident.

“To be without eyes or ears in air traffic control for a full minute and a half is absolutely terrifying,” she explained. “Anything can happen — aircraft can climb unexpectedly, turn into each other, or disappear.”

She described the feeling of isolation and helplessness as she managed the situation solo. Although a supervisor was technically present, she claims he was not actively working traffic and was only responsible for reacting in emergencies.

But the blackout itself isn’t the only problem. According to the controller, the root of Newark’s staffing crisis began last summer, when federal authorities moved the airport’s air traffic operations from a central hub in Long Island to Philadelphia. That transition, she says, left Newark with only 24 certified controllers, down from about 30 — far too few to manage the airport’s demanding schedule.

“Controllers here are often working a dozen planes at once. We’re overwhelmed, burnt out, and scared,” she said. “Roughly a third of us are currently out on trauma leave.”

She also accused the FAA of ignoring repeated warnings about Philadelphia’s outdated and unreliable equipment, citing “repeat power failures” and poor technology. “Each occurrence leaves us sick with dread,” she said.

When reached for comment, the FAA acknowledged the growing pressure. In a public statement, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirmed an interim order to cut down on flights at Newark to reduce delays and ease strain on controllers. The agency also announced plans to upgrade outdated infrastructure and increase staffing.

“We’re replacing copper telecom connections with modern fiber optics and increasing the number of controllers,” the FAA said, promising steps to stabilize the system.

Still, for those managing the skies at Newark, the future feels uncertain.

“If something doesn’t change soon,” the controller warned, “it’s only a matter of time before a fatal accident happens.”