Trump transport sec blames Biden admin for Newark telecom woes
Ground controllers lost contact with planes coming into and leaving the airport
Verizon is adding redundant lines between New York and Philadelphia
The Federal Aviation Administration launched an emergency task force that includes executives from Verizon and contractor L3Harris to address ongoing communication problems at Newark Liberty International Airport. The federal government will fast-track fixes, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference Tuesday.
“The blame belongs with the last administration,” Duffy said, adding that the air traffic control system that serves Newark is “still using copper wires and other outdated technology."
Antiquated technology led to three incidents in the last two weeks where air traffic controllers who guided planes into and out of Newark lost their main telecommunication lines. This caused multiple flight delays and disrupted travel for thousands.
“We could see other situations like this around the country because the system is old, very old,” Duffy said
Verizon won a 15-year, $2.4 billion contract with the FAA in 2023 to upgrade telecommunications systems. "Verizon is at the beginning stages of fulfilling our contract," a Verizon spokesman told Fierce. "The actual operations at Newark and other airports are still managed by L3 Harris," he added.
Duffy said the immediate goal is to add three new lines between New York and ground control systems in Philadelphia to ensure redundancy. He said he had talked to Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg and been assured that work is happening as fast as possible.