The Biden administration is to blame for the ongoing air traffic control failures at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, and throughout the system, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday.

A former United Airlines pilot said Newark air traffic controllers already had a tough enough job prior to the recent system outage. Some air traffic controllers involved in the Newark airport system chaos opted for a 45-day “trauma leave,

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blames Biden administration for Newark airport infrastructure system failures while detailing the plans to fix it. (Credit: Department of Transportation)

Several times over the last year, Newark controllers lost radar or radio service, leaving them unable to talk with planes they were tracking.

Caught in the middle of the issues at Newark is United Airlines, which is the most active airline at the New Jersey airport. While the problems lie with the FAA system, the airline is where people often aim their frustrations over cancellations and delays.

One air traffic controller (ATC) and a trainee will operate every flight in and out of Newark between 6.30pm-9.30pm — despite 15 staffers being the standard requirement for a shift.

The United States aviation industry continues to grapple with the worst air traffic controller shortage in nearly 30 years as a recent spate of incidents has thrust the high-stress profession into the spotlight.