Mother's Day chaos: Power outage and equipment failures disrupt flights at major U.S. airports, prompting FAA ground stops

By willowt // 2025-05-13

Mastodon

Parler

Gab

Copy

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced a sudden power outage around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, causing a two-hour ground stop, flight diversions and over 530 delays. The cause remains under investigation.
Newark Liberty International Airport faced its second major disruption in weeks due to failures at the Philadelphia TRACON facility, leading to 150+ delays and 80 cancellations. A new communications line is planned by summer.
Travelers in Atlanta reported dark terminals, stalled escalators and overcrowding, while airlines like Delta and United issued waivers amid widespread frustration.
Both incidents highlight aging technology, understaffing and inadequate redundancy in U.S. air traffic control, raising safety and reliability concerns.
The FAA faces pressure to accelerate upgrades like the delayed NextGen program, with experts warning that without urgent investment, such disruptions will worsen.

A sudden power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and recurring equipment failures at Newark Liberty International Airport caused widespread flight delays and ground stops on Sunday, May 11, disrupting travel for thousands on one of the busiest weekends of the year. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops for both airports, halting inbound flights and forcing airlines to divert or delay hundreds of trips. While the exact cause of Atlanta’s outage remains under investigation, Newark’s issues stemmed from repeated failures at a critical air traffic control facility in Philadelphia — raising concerns about aging infrastructure and the reliability of the nation’s aviation system.

Atlanta’s power outage: A hub in the dark

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the world’s busiest by passenger volume — experienced a power outage that led to a two-hour ground stop. The FAA confirmed the disruption, stating, "The FAA has issued a ground stop for flights headed to ATL at this time, and many flights inbound to Atlanta are being diverted." Passengers inside the airport reported darkened terminals, stalled escalators and long lines as backup generators struggled to maintain essential operations. Some travelers took to social media, sharing videos of crowded concourses and frustrated flyers waiting for updates. Delta Air Lines, the airport’s dominant carrier, cited the outage and adverse weather as contributing factors. By Sunday afternoon, FlightAware reported over 530 delays and at least three cancellations. While power was restored, the incident underscored the vulnerability of critical aviation infrastructure.

Newark’s recurring nightmare: TRACON system fails again

Meanwhile, Newark Liberty International Airport faced its second major disruption in less than two weeks due to failures at the Philadelphia TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) facility, which manages air traffic for the region. The FAA initially imposed a full ground stop before downgrading to a slowdown, but not before over 150 flights were delayed and 80 canceled. The same facility suffered a catastrophic failure on April 28, when air traffic controllers lost radar, radio and data communication with aircraft—forcing five controllers to take trauma leave. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the severity of the issue, telling NBC’s "Meet the Press": “If we don’t actually accomplish the mission that we’re announcing today, you will see Newark’s — not just in Newark — you’ll see Newarks in other parts of the country.” Duffy announced plans to install a new communications line between Newark and the Philadelphia TRACON by the end of summer, but the repeated failures have left travelers and airlines frustrated. United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, issued waivers for affected passengers, while JetBlue and American Airlines also reported significant disruptions.

Broader implications: Is U.S. aviation infrastructure failing?

The dual disruptions in Atlanta and Newark highlight systemic weaknesses in the nation’s air traffic control systems. Aging technology, understaffing and insufficient redundancy measures have led to increasing delays and safety concerns. Secretary Duffy emphasized that flying remains safe, citing backup procedures, but admitted the system is outdated: “It is not ideal, by any stretch, but they — they do implement those procedures, and they stay away from each other, and we vacate the airspace.” The FAA has faced mounting criticism for its handling of recent incidents, with lawmakers and industry experts calling for accelerated modernization efforts. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warned that the agency’s NextGen air traffic control upgrade program, intended to replace radar-based systems with GPS technology, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.

A system in need of urgent repair

Sunday’s disruptions at two of America’s busiest airports serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of the nation’s aviation infrastructure. While the FAA and airlines worked swiftly to restore operations, the repeated technical failures — particularly in Newark — suggest deeper, unresolved issues. As travel demand continues to surge, the pressure to modernize air traffic control systems has never been greater. Industry leaders warn that without significant investment in infrastructure and workforce training, similar outages could become more frequent. For now, passengers are left hoping that the promised fixes arrive before the next outage does — especially as the busy summer travel season looms. "This isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a wake-up call," said aviation analyst Rebecca Martinez. "If we don’t act now, these disruptions will only get worse." Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NBCNews.com TravelPulse.com