The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport on September 21, 2026, due to a communications outage, resulting in the cancellation of more than 600 flights by 6 p.m., representing over half of the daily schedule. Additionally, nearly 100 flights arriving or departing Newark were delayed. Philadelphia International Airport also experienced significant disruption, with over 200 cancellations and more than 400 delays reported on the same day.
Cause of the Outage: Severed Verizon Fiber Optic Cable
The disruption stemmed from an accidental cut to a Verizon fiber-optic backup cable during construction work by NJ Transit contractors near New Brunswick and North Brunswick, New
Jersey. The severed backup fiber feed disabled the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in Philadelphia, which manages air traffic arrivals and departures for both Newark and Philadelphia airports. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that after an initial circuit failure, the system was unable to switch to the backup feed because the fiber optic line was broken.
Impact on Regional Airports and Flight Diversions
The outage extended beyond Newark and Philadelphia, affecting operations at New York City airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, as well as New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport. Nearly 100 inbound flights were diverted to other U.S. airports. More than 100
flights originally bound for Newark were rerouted, including international flights from countries such as Iceland, Egypt, Greece, Spain, and France. Among the diversions, a United Airlines flight from Berlin was redirected to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Stockholm destined for Newark was sent to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Airline Responses to Manage Disruptions
United Airlines canceled over 600 Newark flights and offered extra pay incentives to employees willing to work additional shifts, aiming to address staffing challenges amid the disruption. The carrier also waived flight change fees for affected passengers. American Airlines, which operates a hub at Philadelphia International
Airport, similarly waived change fees and permitted travelers to depart from alternative airports to mitigate the impact of the outage.
Official Statements and Infrastructure Context
Verizon stated their facilities were fully operational before the cable was cut and denied responsibility for the incident, attributing the outage to “construction contractors working in the area dug up and cut our cable.” NJ Transit confirmed their construction crew “accidentally severed a fiber-optic cable while working at the site” approximately 10 feet from existing utility markings and is investigating the repair status and the origin of those markings. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted the failure involved both the primary
circuit and the backup fiber optic line.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed flight operations were resuming Monday evening following repairs. Duffy emphasized the need for additional funding to modernize aging air traffic control infrastructure to prevent future incidents of this nature.
Issues with outdated air traffic control technology have affected the U.S. airline sector for years. The previous administration announced plans for a multibillion-dollar modernization of the nation’s air traffic control systems in 2025.
