The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop Thursday at Newark Liberty International Airport citing air traffic controller communication issues and technology outages — two concerns that have become a prevalent hiccup at the New Jersey airport.
Incoming flights were halted until 12:30 p.m. EDT while departures continued, according to New York City’s ABC 7.
The grounded flights come a day after a separate outage faced by controllers at the Philadelphia air traffic control center, who manage the Newark airport operations, according to the local outlet.
Officials have urged controllers to remain aware that outages could continue to cause communication issues in the next 24 hours.
The FAA said it will limit incoming flights to 28 per hour until at least Friday, ABC 7 reported.
Arrivals will also be spaced 20 miles apart as they approach the airport, per the outlet.
Persistent issues at the Newark airport shined a spotlight on aging infrastructure and antiquated technology earlier this year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in recent months has vowed to overhaul the agency, including through measures to increase air traffic controller staffing as shortages have hampered air travel across the country.
Duffy has also touted spending and tax provisions recently signed, which includes an allocation of funds that would allow communication lines to be revamped and an investment in modernizing the technology.
