Newark Airport’s air traffic control system is crumbling under failed leadership. Controllers faced multiple system blackouts that left them unable to communicate with planes—a terrifying scenario risking hundreds of lives daily. Overworked staff are now taking legally protected trauma leave, worsening delays that stranded thousands of travelers this month.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby accused controllers of “walking off the job,” but frontline workers fire back. A veteran controller told The Wall Street Journal that Kirby’s comments show corporate cluelessness. “We love this job, but you can’t work miracles when your equipment fails mid-shift,” he said. Controllers didn’t quit—they were ordered off duty after showing PTSD symptoms from near-disasters.
The root problem? Ancient technology and Biden administration neglect. Newark’s systems still use 1990s-era gear that crashes weekly. While the FAA promised upgrades in 2021, zero progress happened. Now they’re scrambling to train replacements for traumatized staff—a process that takes years. Meanwhile, flights get diverted to Philly while families miss weddings and business deals crumble.
This isn’t just about wires and computers—it’s about basic competence. The same federal bureaucrats who botched pandemic relief and border security are mismanaging our skies. Controllers report begging for maintenance upgrades that never come. “We’re the ones getting screamed at by pilots when radios die,” one said. “DC doesn’t care until cameras show up.”
Travelers pay the price for this incompetence. Last Tuesday, a mom flying her sick baby to CHOP hospital got stranded overnight when controllers lost radar. A Southwest flight nearly collided with a cargo jet during a radio blackout. These aren’t “glitches”—they’re preventable failures that put American lives at risk.
Real solutions exist if weak leaders would act. Fast-track controller training programs. Replace obsolete equipment instead of funding gender studies in Ukraine. Slash FAA red tape delaying tower repairs. But Washington would rather spend billions on electric buses than fix our collapsing infrastructure.
The left wants you to blame “underfunding,” but the truth is worse—your tax dollars are already being wasted. The FAA’s $18 billion budget included millions for diversity seminars instead of crucial tech upgrades. While controllers risk breakdowns, agency bosses host climate conferences in Hawaii. This is why Americans hate bureaucrats.
Enough with excuses. Fire the desk jockeys failing our skies. Promote controllers who actually understand the job. And next time you’re stuck on a tarmac for hours, remember—this is what one-party rule looks like. Until we drain the swamp, your safety stays grounded.
