FAA probes radio failure at Denver airport

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a Monday failure of air traffic controllers' radio at Denver International Airport — one of the world's busiest airports, per an FAA statement.Why it matters: It's the latest in a string of alarming tech and safety lapses nationwide that's shaking confidence in the U.S. aviation network.The latest: Around 1:50pm Monday, a segment of the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center lost communications for approximately 90 seconds when both primary transmitters went down, the FAA confirmed Thursday in a statement to Axios Denver.Air traffic controllers switched to an alternate frequency to direct planes.The FAA said all aircraft remained safely separated and operations weren't affected.Still, Denver7 reports as many as 20 aircraft flying toward DIA couldn't reach controllers for up to six minutes.By the numbers: Assuming the planes were traveling at a groundspeed of 200 knots, they would have covered 20 miles without ATC contact in those six minutes.Between the lines: As of 2023, DIA's air traffic control tower was short seven controllers, and the facility that guides planes in the surrounding area was down 10, a recent FAA report shows.The big picture: The incident adds Denver to a growing list of major U.S. airports grappling with technology failures in the air traffic control system — an increasingly urgent concern amid a post-pandemic travel boom.The FAA has blamed recent mishaps on aging infrastructure and critical staffing shortages.Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a multi-billion-dollar modernization plan aimed at upgrading outdated systems and improving reliability.What they're saying: On Wednesday, DIA officials told Axios Denver: "We enjoy a strong partnership with the FAA and have full confidence in knowing that they put safety first in everything they do related to operations" at DIA. They declined to comment on Duffy's plan.What's next: The FAA emphasized its findings are preliminary and said the investigation is ongoing.Go deeper: Colorado's significant air traffic controller shortagesEditor's note: This is a breaking story. Please check back for additional details.

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