In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) managed nearly 16.8 million flights across U.S. airspace, a significant increase from previous years. However, the FAA relies on an air traffic control system from the early 1990s, which is now outdated and insufficient for current demand. Chronic budget constraints and understaffing have worsened the situation, forcing the FAA into suboptimal and sometimes unsafe solutions. These issues culminated in a major outage at Newark Liberty International Airport on April 28th, where pilots lost contact with controllers managing approach and departure airspace, leading to delays, cancellations, and safety concerns.
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