Hundreds of flights were delayed at major U.S. airports after construction workers accidentally severed a cable essential to the Terminal Radar Approach Control system. The incident, which occurred on Monday afternoon, forced the Federal Aviation Administration to ground flights at New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts airports.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the cable had been repaired and that operations would resume, but delays were still expected. The disruption came just before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where many world leaders were scheduled to arrive.
New Jersey public transportation agency NJ Transit said its workers had mistakenly cut the line and that markers had been incorrectly placed at the dig site. An Amtrak spokesperson later clarified that the incident involved an NJ Transit contractor, while Verizon, the cable owner, denied responsibility.
The severed cable was a backup network, discovered only after the primary circuit failed, according to FAA head Bryan Bedford. Newark Liberty International Airport, the largest gateway to New York City, was hardest hit, with FlightAware reporting 267 departing and 257 arriving flights delayed.
Other affected airports included John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia International. One passenger, Douglas Tewnion, was diverted from Edinburgh to Boston, remaining on the tarmac for two hours with no updates, though he said the situation was handled calmly.
Air traffic control crews are working to clear the backlog, and officials advise travelers to monitor flight status closely as the situation unfolds.
