A major disruption in air travel occurred Monday due to the accidental severing of a Verizon fiber cable during construction in New Jersey, which impacted the backup data feed for air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded flights bound for Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, resulting in the diversion of nearly 100 planes, some of which were returning from long-haul flights from Europe.
By 5 p.m. on Monday, over 600 flights in and out of Newark had been canceled, accounting for half of the day’s schedule, while close to 100 were delayed. In Philadelphia, approximately 200 flights were canceled and more than 400 faced delays. The issue arose when an initial circuit failure and a subsequent failure of the backup feed were reported by FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford during a press event in Washington, D.C.
A construction crew working on a rail project near New Brunswick, New Jersey, inadvertently cut the fiber-optic cable while operating close to utility markings, according to NJ Transit. The FAA’s disruptions extended into New York City, where flights into LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports were also affected.
Verizon stated that its facilities were functional until the cable was cut and claimed no responsibility for the incident. NJ Transit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the utility markings at the site. In light of the cancellations, airlines like United and American Airlines waived flight change fees for impacted travelers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need for increased funding to modernize aging air traffic control infrastructure, citing this incident as an example of the potential consequences of outdated technology. The disruptions occurred just hours before key international leaders were set to arrive in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
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