A Verizon fiber-optic cable cut during construction in New Jersey severed a critical backup data feed used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the backup fiber was discovered to have a break when switching from the initial failed circuit on September 21, 2026.
Airports Affected and Ground Stops Implemented
The outage disrupted operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Teterboro Airport. The FAA also halted flights into New York City airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, imposing ground stops. The ground stop at Philadelphia began
at 9:48 a.m., while Newark’s started around 10:00 a.m. and was extended multiple times, lasting at least until 1:45 p.m.
Flight Cancellations, Delays, and Diversions
By 6 p.m. on September 21, more than 600 flights at Newark were canceled, accounting for over half of that day’s schedule. Newark also experienced nearly 100 flight delays. Philadelphia International Airport saw over 200 cancellations and more than 400 flights delayed. Flight delays at Newark reached up to approximately 150 minutes, with average departure delays increasing from 105 minutes in the late morning to around 124 minutes by noon and averaging 112 minutes thereafter.
More than 100 flights scheduled
for Newark were diverted to other U.S. airports, including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. International flights from Europe, including Iceland, Egypt, Greece, Spain, and France, were among those affected.
Airline Responses to Disruptions
United Airlines, operating its busiest international hub at Newark, waived flight change fees for travelers impacted by the outage and offered extra pay incentives for staff picking up trips at Newark to alleviate staffing pressures. American Airlines, with a hub at Philadelphia International Airport, also waived change fees and allowed customers to use alternate airports to reduce inconvenience.
Official Statements and Infrastructure Context
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed that “when it
went to flip into the backup, we discovered the backup fiber had a break.” Verizon stated that “construction contractors working in the area dug up and cut our cable,” emphasizing that their facilities were fully functional prior to the incident and that Verizon bears no responsibility for the cable being severed. NJ Transit reported the fiber-optic cable was accidentally severed by a construction crew working about 10 feet from utility markings on a rail project between New Brunswick and North Brunswick, New Jersey. The agency is investigating the repair status and who made the utility markings.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
called the event an example of the need for additional funding to modernize aging infrastructure, posting on X that such incidents disrupt airspace operations. The FAA had previously installed new fiber-optic connections and backup equipment after failures in 2025, amid ongoing staffing constraints at the Philadelphia TRACON facility through summer 2027.
The FAA announced in the Federal Register an extension of Newark Liberty International Airport’s operating limits effective October 25, 2026, through October 30, 2027, permitting up to 72 operations per hour (36 arrivals and 36 departures) to help manage regional air traffic.
As of Monday evening, flights were resuming
following repairs to the damaged fiber-optic cable.
Passengers affected by the outage are subject to cancellations, delays, and diversions. The FAA and airlines have not specified a complete timeline for restoration beyond that evening.
