1,000 signatures reached
To: Federal Aviation Administration
Stand with air traffic controllers and keep air travel safe!
It has been a deadly year for flyers. Staff shortages and outdated equipment have FAA air traffic controllers feeling the brunt of long-standing, systemic problems in US air travel.
In May 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport had days of large-scale delays and cancellations because of air traffic controller shortages. Why was there such a shortage? Equipment failures at Newark caused controllers to temporarily lose communication with pilots; a situation that could’ve led to catastrophe and loss of life. A number of air traffic controllers had to take trauma leave.
What happened at Newark is the worst of what air traffic controllers experience across the country. 99% of air traffic control facilities in the U.S. are operating below recommended staffing levels. Outdated equipment and systems, poor working conditions, and understaffing are leading to a crisis for controllers.
Why is this important?
The string of disastrous air travel crashes, accidents, outages, and mass delays over the last few years show that these system-wide challenges aren’t going away anytime soon — and that’s bad news for controllers. Many doing the tough, and critical, job of air traffic control are pushed to work overtime due to shortages, leading to many reporting that they feel “fatigued and demoralized.” Many worry that all of these conditions could lead to a “catastrophic mistake.”
At Newark Airport, just 22 controllers are employed instead of the recommended 38. And after the trauma suffered during the equipment breakdown at the airport, available controllers have dropped even more.
At Newark Airport, just 22 controllers are employed instead of the recommended 38. And after the trauma suffered during the equipment breakdown at the airport, available controllers have dropped even more.
There’s growing concern about air safety across the board, and that includes the workplace conditions, health, and well-being of air traffic controllers — who keep air travel moving in the U.S. and can often act as the last line of defense against crashes.
Sign the petition to stand with air traffic controllers to improve workplace conditions and ensure air travel is safe.
