Travelers passing through Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday faced major disruptions as a combination of staffing shortages and equipment issues within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created cascading delays throughout the day. Departing flights were delayed by an average of 75 minutes, while incoming flights faced delays averaging a staggering five hours. According to updates posted by the airport, some delays were expected to stretch up to ten hours.

Airport officials confirmed that Newark was placed in a ground delay program by the FAA shortly after 11 a.m., following an earlier ground stop that was later lifted. Compounding the problem were equipment issues at the FAA’s Philadelphia TRACON center, which oversees airspace in the Newark area. The failure at the control center impacted early morning operations and extended delays well into the day.

This latest disruption comes just days after similar issues had already caused flight problems at Newark, suggesting a troubling pattern for one of the nation’s busiest airports. In addition to the FAA’s internal challenges, Newark is undergoing major construction work on one of its runways, limiting capacity and creating additional bottlenecks during peak flight hours.

Airport management emphasized that they are actively working with airline partners and the FAA to manage operations and assist affected passengers. “Newark Liberty International Airport is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with all stakeholders,” the Port Authority said in a statement. However, travelers were urged to check with their airlines for real-time updates before heading to the airport.

As the spring travel season ramps up, continued delays driven by systemic issues in air traffic control infrastructure and workforce shortages raise serious concerns about the reliability of air travel across the region. For many passengers Thursday, what was supposed to be a routine trip turned into an hours-long ordeal with no clear resolution in sight.