NEWARK, NJ – Newark Liberty International Airport is facing growing scrutiny after a federal air traffic controller reportedly warned it is “not safe” for travelers, citing critical staffing shortages and operational strain. The alarming assessment was reported by NBC News correspondent Tom Costello and cited by the New York Post, which quoted the controller as saying: “It is not safe. Don’t fly into Newark.” Costello is NBC’s senior correspondent covering aviation, space/NASA, and cybersecurity.
The warning comes as Newark, the second-busiest airport in the New York City area with nearly 50 million passengers served in 2024, struggles with mounting delays and cancellations. According to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, over 20% of the airport’s air traffic controllers have recently left their posts. United, which operates its primary East Coast hub at Newark, has responded by canceling 35 roundtrip flights daily to reduce strain on the system and minimize disruptions for passengers.
The situation has been compounded by active runway construction and a controversial FAA decision to shift Newark’s airspace control to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility. That transfer has led to reported equipment problems and further staffing complications.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the crisis in a recent press conference, stating that the FAA is now short roughly 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide. To address the shortfall, the agency is offering incentives including signing bonuses of up to $15,000 to accelerate hiring and retention.
Flight delays at Newark continued through the weekend, with inbound aircraft reportedly waiting over two hours before landing, according to real-time data from FlightAware. Passengers and airline officials alike are now calling for urgent federal action to stabilize operations at the vital transportation hub.
Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to anticipate potential delays as the FAA works to resolve these staffing and infrastructure challenges.
Although Newark Liberty International Airport is not typically the airport of choice for travelers heading to Long Island, there are some exceptions. Passengers often opt to fly into Newark when they find cheaper fares or more convenient flight times compared to JFK or LaGuardia. In some cases, travelers heading to western Long Island, including Brooklyn or Queens, may rent a car from Newark and drive in – especially if other New York-area airports are experiencing severe delays, cancellations, or overcrowding.
