A severed Verizon fiber cable disrupted air traffic control communications on 2026-09-23, affecting hundreds of flights at Newark Liberty International, JFK, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia International airports. The incident led to widespread delays and cancellations across these major Northeast hubs.
Verizon Fiber Cut Causes Communication Failures and Flight Disruptions
The cut occurred in New Jersey, disabling the primary and backup communication circuits used by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Philadelphia TRACON facility. This failure forced the FAA to impose ground stops and flight restrictions at the affected airports.
The disruption compounded as aircraft and crews were delayed across the regional airspace. Newark Liberty International experienced significant impact with hundreds of flights
delayed or canceled during the day.
