Construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control on Monday, triggering an FAA equipment problem that disrupted hundreds of flights across the Northeast.
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Key facts
- Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed on Monday.
- Construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control, according to The Verge.
- The FAA equipment problem hit Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, according to CNBC.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said a circuit failure led to the discovery of the severed cable, according to ABC News via The Verge.
Air travel across the Northeastern United States was thrown into disarray on Monday after a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control was accidentally cut, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays.
According to The Verge, construction crews in New Jersey accidentally severed the fiber cable, which supports air traffic control operations. The resulting disruption affected hundreds of flights and hammered airports across the region.
CNBC reported that an FAA equipment problem snarled air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport on Monday. The disruption also affected air travel tied to New York.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that a circuit failure led to the discovery of the severed fiber cable, ABC News reported, as cited by The Verge.
The incident underscores how a single point of physical infrastructure failure can ripple across a major air travel network, affecting travelers well beyond the immediate location of the damage.
Why it matters
Air traffic control depends on physical telecommunications infrastructure, and a single cut cable can disrupt travel for hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers. The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical systems to accidental damage and the wide-ranging impact such failures can have across busy travel hubs.
Frequently asked questions
What caused the flight disruptions?
According to The Verge, construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control, which led to an FAA equipment problem.
Which airports were affected?
CNBC reported that the FAA equipment problem snarled air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, with disruptions also affecting flights tied to New York.
How was the cut cable discovered?
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said a circuit failure led to the discovery of the severed fiber cable, according to ABC News as reported by The Verge.
Timeline
- A cut cable disrupted hundreds of flights across the US
The Verge: Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed on Monday after construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that a circuit failure led to the discovery of the severed fiber cable, ABC New
- Hundreds of flights into Newark, New York, Philadelphia disrupted after Verizon fiber line cut
CNBC Top News: An FAA equipment problem snarled air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport Monday.