Hundreds of flights were delayed across major US airports on the East Coast on Monday, September 21, 2026, after construction workers accidentally severed a cable necessary for air traffic control. The disruption affected Newark Liberty International Airport, John F Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport, causing ground stops and flight delays beginning Monday afternoon.
Delays at Newark and Regional Impact
Newark Liberty International Airport experienced the most significant delays, with 267 departing flights and 257 arriving flights delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Flights to New York were also diverted to Boston, Massachusetts, contributing to delays at airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and Massachusetts. The delays continued into the evening, interrupting regular air traffic operations across the region.
Cause of Cable Cut and Construction Details
The disruption resulted from construction activity related to NJ Transit and Amtrak projects. NJ Transit confirmed that its construction workers accidentally cut a backup telecommunications cable due to wrongly placed markers at the digging site. An Amtrak spokesperson clarified that the incident involved a NJ Transit contractor and not Amtrak directly. Verizon, the cable’s owner, denied responsibility for the damage.
Official Statements on the Incident
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on September 21 that the cable cut caused a telecommunications outage, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
to ground flights temporarily. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that the severed cable was part of a backup network discovered only after the primary circuit had failed.
Traveler Experiences and Flight Diversions
Passengers faced lengthy delays and ground stops, with some flights remaining at gates or on the tarmac without information. Douglas Tewnion, a passenger whose flight from Edinburgh to New York was diverted to Boston, described being “sitting on the same plane, on the tarmac at Boston with no information” two hours after his expected arrival. While he noted travelers were “in good spirits,” he called the additional delay “a pain.” Flights resumed Monday
evening at LaGuardia and other affected airports after repairs were completed, but delays were expected to continue.
Timing with the UN General Assembly
The disruption occurred one day before the start of the UN General Assembly in New York City, which anticipates many world leaders arriving via the region’s airports. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham boarded his flight before the interruptions began and arrived as scheduled.
Operations Resumed with Ongoing Delays
After cable repairs, air traffic control systems resumed operations late Monday evening at New York’s LaGuardia and other airports. Nonetheless, flight delays were expected to persist following the telecom outage caused by the severed backup cable.
