A routine construction project has triggered widespread travel chaos across major East Coast airports in the United States, after construction crews accidentally severed a key telecommunications cable that supports national air traffic control systems. The incident, which unfolded on Monday afternoon, led to immediate ground stops and lengthy delays for airports spanning New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
The damaged infrastructure affected the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, the critical network that manages aircraft sequencing and guidance during takeoff and landing phases. According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the damage was caused by construction workers employed by Amtrak, the country’s national intercity railroad service, who were carrying out infrastructure work in New Jersey. Duffy confirmed via a post on X that the accidental cable cut resulted in a major telecommunications outage, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a ground stop for affected regions to avoid safety risks.
Officials later clarified that the severed cable was actually part of the backup communications network for air traffic control. The outage was not fully recognized until the primary network also failed, compounding the scope of the disruption. Verizon, the telecommunications giant that owns the affected cable, has stated that its teams are working around the clock to restore service as quickly as possible, but the company has denied any responsibility for the incident.
Flight tracking platform FlightAware data shows that Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey bore the brunt of the disruption, with more than 260 departing flights and 250 incoming flights delayed by mid-afternoon on Monday. Other major regional airports including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, as well as Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania, also reported significant delays and operational disruptions.
The timing of this widespread travel disruption is particularly notable, as it comes just one day ahead of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Dozens of heads of state and global delegations are scheduled to travel through New York area airports for the high-profile event, raising concerns about potential disruptions to their arrivals and the overall schedule of the assembly. As of Monday evening, repair crews were still working to fully restore the damaged network, and the FAA has not yet issued a timeline for when full flight operations will resume across the affected airports.