Tech Snafus of the Past Plague Modern Air Travel: A Second Major Security Glitch at Newark Airport.
Security incident reported at US airport Newark, located close to New York City, involving another significant breach.
Let's talk about the recent mess at Newark International Airport, a bustling hub west of the Big Apple. Just imagine, pilots of landing and taking off planes lost communication with air traffic controllers for about 90 seconds, disrupting radar screens and ground communication systems! Sounds like a scene straight out of a '70s sci-fi flick, right? Well, not so much, unfortunately.
The incident happened on a Friday morning at 3:55 AM local time, as per the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Oh, and guess what? This ain't the first time this sort of thing has occurred. just two weeks back, on April 28, a similar incident left many flights grounded.
In response to the first incident, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a comprehensive overhaul of the US air traffic control system. The aim is to ditch the technology remnants from the '60s by the end of 2028—a move we can't come soon enough!
Newark's overcrowded status has fueled discussions on air safety in our beloved nation. Remember that nasty collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter at the national airport of our nation's capital, Washington, back in January? Yeah, that claim Gulfstream IV lives in infamy.
But it's not all doom and gloom. A silver lining did emerge from the April 29 incident, when a gun was detected at a Newark checkpoint by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and a Philadelphia dude was arrested.
Now for some fun facts. Did you know that back in May, over 20% of Newark's air traffic controllers went on a walkout, exacerbating an already strained workforce? This led to flight cancellations, bringing the airport to its knees.
In light of these challenges, air traffic controller staffing shortages, and outdated technology, it's high time we modernized the US air traffic control system. The proposed upgrades are music to our ears, as they aim to tackle these longstanding issues.
So, as you're boarding your next flight, don't forget to give a silent cheer for technological advancements. Fingers crossed, they'll ensure a smoother, less frustrating flight experience!
Sources: ntv.de, [AFP]
- Yet again, a security breach at a US airport has caused disruptions – this time, at Newark International Airport, located west of New York.
- The recent outage at Newark caused a 90-second communication loss between pilots and air traffic controllers, disrupting radar screens and ground communication systems.
- In response to this incident and a similar one that happened two weeks prior, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced plans to overhaul the US air traffic control system, aiming to replace outdated technology by 2028.
- The discussions about air safety in the US have been noted, especially after the disturbing collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter at Washington's national airport earlier this year.
- Despite the challenges, there have been positive developments – for instance, a gun was detected at a Newark checkpoint by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), leading to an arrest.
