On Monday (May 12), Denver International Airport experienced a 90-second communication blackout, causing temporary chaos in the skies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, which occurred around 1:50 p.m. local time when both transmitters at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in Longmont went down.

During the outage, approximately 20 pilots were unable to communicate with air traffic controllers. The controllers used an alternative frequency to relay instructions, ensuring aircraft remained safely separated. However, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about the aging infrastructure of the FAA's systems.

Retired air traffic controller David Riley explained to KCDO that the biggest risk is having airplanes without communication, forcing pilots to manage on their own. Riley noted that while radar coverage remained, it was akin to "watching a car crash happen and not being able to do anything about it."

The outage is part of a series of recent air traffic control issues across the United States, including multiple incidents at Newark International Airport. These events have raised concerns about the outdated technology used in air traffic control systems. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has addressed these concerns, stating that the current technology is over 50 years old. The Transportation Department plans to request funds from Congress to overhaul the air traffic control system, including replacing radars and upgrading communication systems.

American Medicine Today