Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport are speaking out after terrifying equipment failures put lives at risk. These heroes who keep our skies safe faced multiple system outages that left them effectively blind while guiding packed passenger jets. Now some need extended leave to recover from the trauma of nearly causing midair disasters.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sparked outrage by accusing controllers of abandoning their posts. His claim that workers “walked off the job” ignores the mental toll of fighting broken technology with no backup. Controllers didn’t quit—they were physically removed from duty after stress made them unfit to protect travelers.
A veteran controller described the horror of watching radar screens freeze during peak traffic. For over 90 seconds, he couldn’t see planes or communicate with pilots. Colleagues screamed warnings to nearby airports as they prayed collisions wouldn’t turn Newark into another 9/11-style catastrophe. This nightmare happened twice since August due to aging systems.
Staffing shortages compound the danger. The FAA’s failure to train enough replacements forces exhausted teams to work grueling overtime shifts. Contractors hired to upgrade equipment delivered faulty systems that crash repeatedly. Meanwhile, Washington bureaucrats drag their feet on urgent safety reforms.
The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act allows 45 days’ paid leave for trauma—a lifeline these patriots earned through service. Kirby’s dismissive attitude toward their suffering shows how coastal elites undervalue blue-collar Americans. Real leaders don’t blame workers for government incompetence.
Outdated tech and poor maintenance created this crisis. Controllers say communication lines to Newark’s Philadelphia command center keep failing. Each outage risks hundreds of lives while pencil-pushers in DC prioritize diversity initiatives over fixing critical infrastructure.
Americans deserve better than Third World air traffic systems. Congress must slash red tape delaying equipment upgrades and hold the FAA accountable. Let’s fund proper training programs instead of wasting tax dollars on woke climate projects unrelated to aviation safety.
These controllers exemplify American resilience. Despite betrayal by their own government, they keep showing up to do the impossible. It’s time to give them the tools and respect needed to protect our families soaring through Newark’s troubled skies.
