WASHINGTON, D.C. Former Blackhawk helicopter pilot and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science

A staffing shortage, runway construction and deferred maintenance to crucial air traffic technology have made Newark Airport a national laughingstock.

Duffy laid out an extensive plan to replace the nation’s outdated air traffic control system last week, including installing 4,600 new high-speed data connections and replacing 618 radars, but didn’t put a price tag on the plan other than to say it will cost billions.

A communications outage affecting flights approaching Denver International Airport is the latest in a series of glitches that have put a spotlight on the nation’s aging air traffic control system.

A portion of the Denver air route traffic control center experienced a 90-second loss of communications late Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Staff shortages and equipment failures at Newark Liberty International Airport have raised safety concerns in recent weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration is considering temporary flight reductions in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport, and it's launching a safety task force.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a four-point plan to address the failing infrastructure at Newark Liberty Airport.