Newark Airport rebounding from Monday delays after equipment, staffing issues
Equipment and staffing issues at Newark Liberty International Airport prompted major delays Monday.
The Federal Aviation Administration said arrivals were delayed by 30 minutes and departures by two hours.
Some planes were stuck on runways, while others circled in the sky waiting to land. Some flights that had been scheduled to land at Newark had to be diverted to other airports.
One father who arrived to pick up his daughter found out her flight had to land in Hartford, Connecticut instead.
"She's coming from Dublin, and I just ... the board lit up. Everything got delayed, diverted, canceled. I don't know what's going on," he said.
United Airlines alone diverted 35 flights to alternate airports. Passengers were advised to check on how the delays might impact their flights.
The technical issues have since been resolved, but FAA officials pointed to staffing problems in Philadelphia as a contributing factor.
"The FAA is slowing arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport after telecommunications and equipment issues at Philadelphia TRACON, which guides aircraft in and out of EWR. Both have been resolved, but now there are staffing issues at Philadelphia TRACON," the FAA said in a statement.
The FAA required several controllers to relocate to Philadelphia last year to handle the airspace there. The move was intended to improve staffing issues overall.
Monday's troubles also delayed flights at Teterboro, Essex County and Morristown airports.
