I’m a pilot — here’s the disastrous truth about flying out of Newark Airport
By Asia Grace
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It’s just a plane pain.
Delays, cancellations and air-traffic trauma. The plagues have all contributed to the ongoing chaos of flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport.
And, unfortunately, this dreamy wingman says the nightmare is far from over.
Crowds at Newark Airport.
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Pilot Pete Cappio shared his first-hand experience with the long lines, wait times, flight delays and cancellations that have recently plagued New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.
Getty Images
“Holy cow, is that a disaster,” griped pilot Pete Cappio, a Big Apple-based aviator and “Bachelorette” alum, of his recent departure from the NYC-area air station.
Offering his 183,000 TikTok viewers a sneak peek at the plane pandemonium, Cappio, 35, shared visuals featuring a cluster of aircraft waiting to take off from Newark’s tarmac.
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But smooth sailing out of the airport — deemed a “travel hellhole” by frustrated frequent flyers over the past few weeks — has become virtually impossible. The disarray is largely due to a string of air-traffic control outages, construction issues and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employee walk-offs.
The ongoing tumult forced the FAA to announce a dramatic cut to the number of flights permitted to come in and out Newark for the next several months.
A screen displays delayed flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., May 9, 2025.
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Cappio warned jetsetters traveling into or out of Newark to expect delays and cancellations.
REUTERS
A United Airlines Station Operation Center stands at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., May 9, 2025.
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Newark Airport has been in turmoil since a 90-second power outage in late April.
REUTERS
Planes waiting to leave out of Newark Liberty International Airport.
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Cappio says his plane was 27th in line to depart from Newark Airport due to a closed runway.
Getty Images
Luckily for Cappio, endearingly known as “Pilot Pete” online, he made it out by the hairs of his chiseled chin.
“Here’s a live look at how many airplanes I had to wait behind prior to takeoff,” the millennial moaned in his viral vid.
“We were No. 27 for takeoff, and that’s for multiple reasons,” he continued, adding that the “biggest” blockage was a closed runway undergoing reconstruction.
A screenshot from Pete Cappio's TikTok.
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Cappio gave social media fans a glimpse at the “disastrous” traffic on Newark Airport’s runways.
TikTok / @pilotpete.fly
“Every airline has to take off and land on a parallel runway, and it causes a backup bigger than I’ve ever seen before at Newark,” complained Cappio.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “It took us 57 minutes, from push back to takeoff, behind all these airplanes.”
Still, the airman applauded Newark’s remaining air traffic controllers for doing their best under some of the worst conditions.
“Excellent job,” he raved. “Super, super skilled getting airplanes airborne as quickly as possible while dealing with airplanes coming in to land.”
Cappio went on to assure trippers that catching a flight to or from the beleaguered hub is “super safe” — but also advised folks to “expect delays” and “possible cancellations.”
“Crazy, crazy happenings at Newark Airport.”
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