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WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

You've got a lot of people that are questioning on whether or not they should even go through Newark for their travel, which is a huge base for United.

A communications blackout at air traffic control in New Jersey lasted just about a minute, but it could have long-term impacts for airlines and travelers.

It's Tuesday, May 6th, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBUR.

I'm Chris Bentley.

Today on the show, a new immunotherapy drug could help some cancer patients avoid surgery.

Immunotherapy was able to replace chemo radiation and surgery in 80% of tumors across the board.

Also, the super fine tailoring on display at last night's net gala.

What is black dandyism?

And who wore it best?

That's coming up in about 15 minutes.

But first, I don't know where you are.

Six words, no pilot wants to hear when they're trying to land an airplane.

Last week for about 60 to 90 seconds,

air traffic controllers at Newark Airport in New Jersey lost all radar and radio contact with

planes trying to take off and land. Here's how one pilot in the sky reacted.

I just got told that three of the four radar screens went black, and they have no frequencies.

That gap left planes in the New York City area circling for half an hour, as the glitch was sorted out. There were no accidents or injuries, but the incident did set off a wave of absences in

the control tower, and it raises questions about the nation's air traffic control infrastructure.

And we put some of those questions to Jeff Gazetti, an aviation safety consultant with decades of experience at the FAA and NTSB. He served in the office of the Inspector General at the Department of Transportation and led audits of FAA's efforts to modernize air traffic control.

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