The chief of a popular airline has issued a chilling warning to its customers about issues at a major US airport.
The executive’s warning came as an air traffic controller said the same airport was “not safe,” urging passengers to not fly into the travel hub.
Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, expressed concerns last Friday about the capacity of Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. He highlighted that the airport is currently facing challenges in accommodating the increasing number of scheduled flights in the upcoming weeks and months.
Due to this perceived issue, United Airlines decided to cancel 35 daily round-trip flights out of Newark airport.
“We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers,” Kirby said in a letter to United Airlines passengers.
Kirby’s announcement comes as an air traffic controller at Newark airport told NBC News’ Tom Costello, “It is not safe.”
“It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” he warned.
Costello recalled on MSNBC, “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited.”
“He just said that to me, and separately, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,'” the news correspondent said.
Newark airport operates an average of about 300 round-trip flights daily, per Business Insider.
Kirby detailed the issues that United Airlines sees at the New Jersey travel hub.
Kirby pointed out a specific issue with the technology used by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers at Newark Airport. The failure of this technology led to numerous flight diversions, as well as hundreds of delays and cancellations. As a result, thousands of travelers had their plans severely disrupted.
Kirby said Newark airport’s air traffic control facility has been “chronically understaffed for years.”
He also claimed that over 20% of the travel hub’s air traffic controllers have recently “walked off the job.”
On Monday morning, Newark airport issued a ground stop due to low ceilings, per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Low ceilings in aviation is when a cloud layer is too close to the ground.
