The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop on September 21, 2026, at Newark Liberty International Airport and multiple major East Coast airports following an accidental cut of a telecommunications line in New Jersey used by the FAA. The disruption began at approximately 9:45 a.m. ET and lasted about eight hours, halting incoming flights at Newark, JFK, LaGuardia, Philadelphia International, Boston, Reagan Washington National, and nearby smaller regional airports.
Newark Faces Flight Delays, Cancellations, and Travel Waivers
Newark Liberty International Airport experienced significant disruptions, with flight delays reaching up to 150 minutes and more than half of all scheduled flights cancelled. United Airlines, which operates a major hub
at Newark, issued a travel waiver to affected customers. The telecommunications outage also delayed international arrivals, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose flight into New York was postponed, resulting in his late arrival Monday night.
Nationwide Flight Disruptions and Official Responses
FlightAware reported about 7,000 flights delayed or cancelled across the United States during the ground stop, including roughly 1,400 delays and cancellations at the three New York-area airports. More than 100 flights were diverted to alternate airports to cope with the stoppage. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on social media that the telecommunications lines had been repaired late in the afternoon and normal
flight operations were resuming in the Northeast, though delays were expected to persist for some time.
Broader Regional Impact and International Coordination
Alongside Newark, flight operations resumed in Philadelphia after a second ground stop was lifted late in the afternoon. Boston and Reagan Washington National Airports also faced temporary ground stops due to volume-related constraints, which were later cleared. In Canada, Toronto Pearson and Montreal Trudeau International Airports monitored the situation closely and advised passengers traveling to or from the United States to contact their airlines directly for updates. The ground stop coincided with the arrival of over 130 world leaders and numerous ministers in New
York for the United Nations General Assembly.
