Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport have taken trauma leave due to the stress caused by frequent equipment failures, according to the FAA. At least five controllers are currently off work under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, which allows federal employees to recover from workplace injuries while receiving full pay. This absence has led to significant flight disruptions, including delays and cancellations. The chaos has been exacerbated by the inability to quickly replace these specialized workers, leading to frustrations among airlines, particularly United Airlines, which has faced numerous canceled flights.
"Frequent equipment and telecommunications outages can be stressful for controllers," the FAA said Monday.
The CEO of United Airlines previously slammed air traffic controllers for "walking off the job" following the outages, saying 20% of the FAA staffers overseeing Newark flights had taken leave.
#air-traffic-control #newark-airport #flight-disruptions #equipment-failures #federal-employees-compensation-act
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