On Monday, 21 September 2026, hundreds of flights were delayed at major US airports after NJ Transit construction workers accidentally severed a cable needed for air traffic control communications. The cut caused a telecom outage that disrupted the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, which guides aircraft during takeoff and landing.
Flight Delays Concentrated at Newark Liberty and New York Airports
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey faced the heaviest impact, with 267 departing flights and 257 arriving flights delayed, according to FlightAware data. Other affected airports included New York’s LaGuardia and John F Kennedy International Airports, as well as Philadelphia International Airport. Ground stops and flight delays were imposed
across New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts during Monday afternoon and evening.
Cause of the Disruption and Response
The disruption stemmed from construction by NJ Transit workers who cut a backup communications cable due to incorrectly placed digging site markers. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initially cited Amtrak workers as causing the outage; Amtrak later clarified the incident involved a NJ Transit contractor. Verizon, owner of the cable, stated it was not responsible. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that the severed cable was a backup line, and its damage was discovered after the primary circuit had failed. The FAA grounded flights as a precaution until
the cable was repaired, allowing flight operations to resume Monday evening.
Passenger Impact and Travel Conditions
Passengers experienced diversions and extended delays, including Douglas Tewnion, whose flight originally bound for New York was redirected to Boston, Massachusetts. He reported being “sitting on the same plane, on the tarmac at Boston with no information” two hours after the scheduled New York arrival time. Tewnion described passengers as “in good spirits,” but noted the additional two-hour wait added to an already lengthy journey. Extended waits and limited communication frustrated travelers across the affected airports.
The disruption occurred ahead of the UN General Assembly scheduled in New York
City on Tuesday, an event expected to bring numerous world leaders to New York-area airports. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham boarded his flight before the delays began and arrived as planned.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the cable repair and indicated that while operations would normalize, delays were expected to continue as airport schedules recovered.
