An air traffic controller has issued a stark warning about Newark Liberty International Airport, calling it unsafe for travelers, according to a new report.
“It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” the controller allegedly told NBC News correspondent Tom Costello.
Costello, recounting the interaction on MSNBC, said, “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited. He just said that to me, and separately, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
Newark Liberty, which handled 24.3 million passengers last year and ranks as the second busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area, has been mired in extensive delays and cancellations over the past several days.
The Federal Aviation Administration attributes the disruptions to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at Newark, compounded by runway construction projects.
According to MSNBC, the airport’s workforce has shrunk by 20% in recent weeks, making it even more difficult to manage the heavy traffic.
The crisis prompted United Airlines—Newark’s primary East Coast hub carrier—to cancel 35 roundtrip flights per day. The airline said the move was essential “in order to protect our customers.”
On Sunday, the delays persisted, with some arriving flights held on the ground for over two hours before receiving clearance to land, according to data from Flight Aware’s Misery Map.

{Matzav.com}