A Verizon fiber-optic cable was accidentally cut by a construction crew working on a New Jersey Transit rail project near New Brunswick on September 21, 2026, around 9:45 a.m., causing a failure in both the primary and backup communication lines for the Philadelphia TRACON air traffic control facility. The Philadelphia TRACON coordinates radar approach and air traffic control for the Northeast region.
Ground Stops and Delays at Major Northeast Airports
The outage triggered ground stops and significant delays at Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, Teterboro, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports. Newark experienced flight delays of up to 150 minutes. By Monday evening, over 300 flights were
canceled at Newark, accounting for more than half of its scheduled departures. Philadelphia International Airport reported more than 200 flight cancellations and over 400 delays. Nearly 100 flights at Newark were delayed in addition to cancellations.
Widespread Flight Cancellations and Diversions
More than 600 flights in and out of Newark were canceled on September 21, with over 100 Newark-bound flights diverted to other U.S. airports including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Disruptions affected flights originating from multiple international destinations such as Iceland, Egypt, Greece, Spain, France, Germany, and Sweden. United Airlines and American Airlines waived change fees for passengers impacted
by cancellations and delays. United Airlines reported the highest number of canceled flights Monday globally and offered additional pay incentives to Newark staff. American Airlines allowed affected customers to rebook flights out of alternate airports without penalties.
Official Statements on Cause and Repair
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said a backup fiber-optic cable was found broken when the system switched to backup operation. Verizon stated that construction contractors working near utility markings dug up and severed the cable, adding the contractors were responsible for calling for proper markings and performing the work. NJ Transit confirmed the construction crew was approximately 10 feet from utility markings when cutting
the cable and said investigations into repair status and marking responsibility are ongoing. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that repairs were completed Monday and airport operations resumed, but noted clearing existing delays would take time.
Traveler Impact and Flight Diversions
Passengers experienced flight delays reaching 150 minutes at Newark and widespread cancellations at Newark and Philadelphia airports. More than 300 cancellations occurred at Newark, with nearly 100 more delayed, while Philadelphia saw over 200 cancellations and 400 delays. Flights originally destined for Newark diverted to other major U.S. hubs such as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. The outage affected flights
from various regions worldwide including Europe and the Middle East, disrupting travel plans for many international travelers.
Aging Infrastructure Spurs Calls for Modernization
The cable that was severed was part of an aging air traffic control system scheduled for replacement. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the need to replace the outdated data architecture with a modern federal enterprise network system, citing the current system’s design dating back 50 years. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has prioritized air traffic control modernization since taking office, highlighted the incident as reflecting persistent infrastructure challenges. The outage occurred amid preparations for the United Nations General Assembly in New York City,
underscoring the importance of robust air traffic control systems in one of the nation’s busiest airspace sectors.
