The push for modernization follows recent safety incidents, including a significant disruption last week at Newark Liberty International Airport. During the event, air traffic control screens went dark for 30 seconds, resulting in a complete loss of communication between controllers and aircraft. The union representing controllers, NATCA, reported that multiple workers are on leave due to trauma from the event, which caused substantial delays. Duffy addressed the incident, noting that although the primary communication line failed and the backup did not activate, there was no collision risk because pilots rely on onboard communication devices and GPS signals, both of which have since been restored.

As a safety precaution, officials have slowed traffic at Newark—comparing the situation to “driving down the road at 70 mph and you get white paint in your windshield”—to ensure no further incidents occur. Duffy emphasized that the current priority is restoring system reliability and safety before resuming normal operations.

His comments come amid ongoing concerns about staffing shortages and workforce reductions at the Federal Aviation Administration, which have been linked to recent airline accidents, including a deadly collision earlier this year near Washington, D.C. Lawmakers are now pushing for increased funding and modernization efforts to address systemic fragility and staffing issues, aiming to prevent future disruptions and improve safety standards across the industry.