FAA issues ground stop at Newark airport over construction

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday due to construction.

The ground stop is in effect until 11:15 a.m.

Last week, air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility in Philadelphia lost radar and radio signals while directing planes to Newark for nearly 90 seconds, causing significant delays and flight cancellations that remain ongoing.

However, there have been longstanding issues in the air traffic control system, including persistent staffing shortages, outdated technology and chronic underinvestment in critical infrastructure. The situation at Newark, though, has been further strained by ongoing construction at the airport, which is temporarily operating with only one of its parallel runways.

American Airlines said that its customers have also been impacted.

“The challenges in Newark have led to delays and disruptions for airlines and their customers – including American – and demonstrate the urgent need to staff up and modernize our air traffic control system,” the carrier said in a statement to FOX Business.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told customers in a note on Friday that the technology failure resulted in “dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights and, worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans.”

To try and minimize the impact that this will have on customers, Kirby said the carrier is unilaterally canceling 35 round-trip flights per day from its Newark schedule, which has already been reduced.

“It’s disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers,” Kirby added.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.