On October 28, 2026, at least 374 flights were delayed and 59 canceled across the United States as of 9:44 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, FlightAware reported. Globally, there were more than 7,143 flight delays and 558 cancellations at the same time.
Verizon Network Outage Impacts Northeast US Airports
The widespread disruption at major airports in the Northeast United States, including Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, was traced to a Verizon network fiber line outage. This outage interrupted communications and flight operations, leading to significant schedule disruptions.
Weather Adds Delays at San Diego, Seattle, and Las Vegas
In addition to the network outage, weather conditions contributed to delays at several locations.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified low cloud cover as a factor affecting flights at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Meanwhile, persistent winds have the potential to delay departures or arrivals in Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS).
Passenger Guidance Amid Delays and Cancellations
Travelers can expect ongoing flight disruptions across multiple U.S. airports. Experts advise passengers to monitor flight status constantly through official airline apps or websites. Additional time is recommended for connections at heavily trafficked hubs. Carrying essential items in hand luggage is advised to ease the impact of extended waits. Airlines’ rebooking and refund policies should be reviewed ahead
of travel.
Eryn Gordon, a TedX speaker specializing in ethical and responsible travel, emphasized approaching cancellations as a logistics issue rather than a crisis. She recommended, “Screenshot the rebooking policy before you leave the house.” Gordon also cautioned against hastily accepting the first offered seat, stating, “The trap is thinking speed is everything and grabbing the first seat offered, when that seat can strand you in a connecting airport overnight with your bag on another aircraft.”
