A Verizon fiber-optic cable was accidentally cut by construction contractors in New Jersey on September 21, 2026, severing a backup feed critical to Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control systems. The incident caused a failure at the FAA’s Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in Philadelphia, which manages flight operations for Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.
Flight Cancellations, Delays, and Diversions Concentrated at Newark and Philadelphia
The outage prompted the FAA to impose ground stops at Newark Liberty International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport. By 6 p.m. local time, over 600 flights were canceled at Newark, accounting for more than
half of the daily schedule. Nearly 100 flights at Newark faced delays, while Philadelphia experienced more than 200 flight cancellations and over 400 delays.
In addition, more than 100 inbound flights to Newark, including international routes from countries such as Iceland, Egypt, Greece, Spain, and France, were diverted to alternate U.S. airports. A United Airlines flight from Berlin was rerouted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight from Stockholm bound for Newark was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Airlines Respond with Waivers and Staffing Measures
United Airlines, which operates its busiest international hub out of Newark, issued travel waivers allowing passengers
to rebook flights without change fees and offered additional pay to staff willing to work at Newark to address staffing shortages. The airline also confirmed provisions to support commuting staff traveling to the New York City area.
American Airlines, using Philadelphia International Airport as a hub, also waived change fees and permitted customers to depart from alternate airports to mitigate passenger disruptions.
Official Statements on Cause and Repair Efforts
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that the initial air traffic control circuit failure led to a switch to a backup system, only to discover that the backup fiber had been severed. He stated, “when it went to flip
into the backup, we discovered the backup fiber had a break.”
New Jersey Transit reported its construction crew, working on a rail project between New Brunswick and North Brunswick, inadvertently cut the fiber-optic cable while operating about 10 feet from utility markings. The agency said staff were onsite to assess repair status and to clarify responsibility for the utility markings.
Verizon stated its facilities were fully operational before the cut and that the company did not bear responsibility for the incident. Verizon confirmed it immediately deployed technicians to repair the damaged cable and restore connectivity promptly.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
posted on X that flights were resuming following repairs but emphasized the need for increased funding to modernize infrastructure to prevent similar events.
Aging Infrastructure and Timing Ahead of UN General Assembly
This disruption placed a spotlight on the challenges posed by aging FAA air traffic control equipment. The Trump administration had announced a multibillion-dollar program for overhauling the nation’s air traffic control systems the previous year, aiming to reduce outages and improve reliability.
The outages and flight disruptions occurred just hours before President Donald Trump and other world leaders were scheduled for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, affecting international and domestic travel during a critical
diplomatic period.
