Audit Into FAA’s Relocation of Air Traffic Controllers Raises Serious Safety Questions, Say NYC Aviation Accident Lawyers

A federal watchdog has launched an audit into the Federal Aviation Administration’s controversial decision to relocate more than a dozen air traffic controllers from New York to Philadelphia—a move now under scrutiny following two alarming outages in Newark’s airspace earlier this year.

As New York aviation accident attorneys, we are closely monitoring this investigation. When administrative decisions compromise air safety, the consequences can be catastrophic—and accountability is essential.

FAA Relocation Decision Under Fire

The controllers were moved last year from the Westbury, Long Island hub to Philadelphia to mitigate staffing shortages. But rather than solving a problem, the relocation appears to have created new and potentially deadly risks.

In April and again in May, Newark’s airspace experienced 90-second blackouts—critical failures during which radar and communication with aircraft were lost. Aviation professionals know that even a few seconds of lost communication can end in disaster. The fact that such failures occurred twice in as many months has raised alarm bells among experts and lawmakers alike.

Congresswoman Laura Gillen, after touring the Westbury facility, labeled the FAA’s decision “reckless,” noting that it uprooted families and dismantled tightly coordinated teams. According to aviation controllers, being in the same physical space is vital to making split-second decisions that protect pilots, passengers, and everyone on the ground.

Potential Implications for Legal Liability

Should these communication failures contribute to or cause an aviation accident, the legal implications for the FAA could be significant. Government agencies, just like private airlines and aircraft manufacturers, may be held liable for system-wide failures, mismanagement, and preventable hazards. Our firm has represented victims in numerous high-profile aviation disasters, and time and again we see the same pattern: safety compromised in the name of convenience or cost-saving.

Protecting Victims of Aviation Negligence

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we represent victims and their families in the wake of catastrophic aviation incidents, including those caused by air traffic control failures. If you or a loved one was harmed or killed in an air travel incident, you may have a claim not only against the airline, but also against governmental bodies whose missteps put lives at risk. Contact us for a free consultation.