Confessions of an air traffic controller: Why travelers should ‘avoid Newark like the plague’

NY Post ^ | 05/17/2025 | Chris Harris

[DFG]

I’ve been an air traffic controller since I was 18, and as a flier, I would avoid Newark.

Lately, I’ve been flying out of JFK or LaGuardia, because it’s safer, and there’ve been some crazy-ass delays at Newark. I started telling family and friends last summer to avoid Newark like the plague, because we knew it was going to be bad, we just didn’t think it was going to be this bad with all of the technological issues.

This is a busy area, with the three major airports and all these satellite airports — it’s like a bee’s nest. Back in the ’60s, two airplanes collided over Brooklyn, killing 134 people on the planes and on the ground. So, the FAA went, ‘Hey, you know what? We should put all of these people who control these airports in the same building because it would be safer.’

And it was safer.

Now, they’re like, ‘Let’s dismantle it.’

Five years ago, they decided they were going to move Newark’s controllers from Long Island to Philly, and we tried to fight it. Last summer I was essentially forced [to move to Philadelphia]. We had 33 controllers in New York, and only 24 made the move.

We are understaffed.

In 10 months, instead of having people succeed in Philadelphia, we’ve had 11 say, ‘F–k this, I am not doing this.’ So now, we’re down to 22. Three more are retiring this summer.

-- snip --

One rumor I have heard is that [federal Transportation Secretary] Sean Duffy was extremely interested in moving Newark’s air traffic controllers back to New York. I have heard that is what he wants to do, that he’s exploring the idea of moving us back.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: faa; newark

[ronnie raygun]

DEI hires is the icing on the cake, those old timers who have years in and experience are handling the work load while these protected a##wipes are enjoying their protection

[one guy in new jersey]

Why are the ATCs for Newark/Liberty International located anywhere other than Newark, NJ?

[maddog55]

I’m not buying any of this FAA shxt. I think it’s a planned setup and all to convenient.

[delchiante]

That airport is on my do not visit anymore anyway.

I actually want Hillary and Nancy to have to spend some time there as part of their prison sentence before traveling to Gitmo..

But not too much time.

That would be cruel and unusual...
I’d start to even feel sorry for those 2 criminals if they were sentenced to too many days in the Newark airport..

[doorgunner69]

Not a problem, I will never set foot in NY/NJ sewer.

[Freee-dame]

That is scary.

[RetiredTexasVet]

You should avoid flying into Newark because it is located in New Jersey ... unless you have a death wish.

[GMThrust]

The location of the controllers means nothing. The moral of the story that this guy is telling, is they consolidated controllers to one location for cost purposes. And the end result is, fewer controllers now controlling more airspace. I’ve flown into Teterboro many times (as a pilot), the Newark airspace controllers need to be the best because all the airways/approaches leading into any NY or beyond airport funnels through there. I was 50 feet off my altitude and the controller came back and said if I can’t hold my altitude, he would reassign me another one. I later learned that was code for “you’re going to the penalty box”. It’s all about competence (that’s where DEI fails).

[from occupied ga]

EVERYONE should avoid Newark (and for that matter the rest of NJ too) like the plague.

[Lisbon1940]

Their trains are shut down too.

[vaskypilot]

The air traffic controllers at Newark Airport tower are for the aircraft near the airport (usually 5 miles). The aircraft approaching or leaving Newark airport are located in a Tracon, which is not located in Newark. The tracon controllers were in Newark and now in Philadelphia. A common Tracon is used for areas that include multiple large airports (e.g., Houston, Washington DC, Los Angeles).

[Dr. Ursus]

IT WAS ON LONG ISLAND BEFORE AND JFK BEFORE THAT.

[blackdog]

I always have. Teterboro and uncontrolled fields.

Hint...Most towers close at 10:00PM. After that it's Center radar and vectors on instrument of visual approach. I learned long ago to fly from 10:00 PM until around 7:00 AM, because human beings are in control of the processes. All the bureaucrats are looking for is the busting of noise abatement sensors.

[Feckless]

I flew into Newark from Saudi after Desert Storm. Had to buy my own ticket (got reimbursed) and rent a car to get to Ft Dix because the ol’ lady was a Drill Sgt in the middle of Red Phase and couldn’t get off. I turned in the car and was back to work Monday like nothing happened.

[SaxxonWoods]

I avoid flying like jumping off a cliff.

[Lisbon1940]

Philip Roth came from there.