New York Airports Resume Flights After Fiber Cut Halts Northeast Traffic
New York-area airports resumed commercial flights Tuesday after a cut fiber-optic line and a communications failure at the FAA's Philadelphia air traffic control facility halted radar and radio across the Northeast on Monday.[1]
Newark Liberty International Airport recorded more than 600 cancellations Monday and halted commercial landings from about 9:40 a.m. to just after 5:20 p.m. local time.[1] Philadelphia International recorded more than 200 cancellations, and LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports also reported cancellations before operations resumed Monday evening.[1] As of early Tuesday, Newark still had about 40 delays and nearly 60 cancellations.[1]
On Monday, September 21, the FAA's Philadelphia air traffic control center lost both its primary communications circuit and a backup fiber-optic line, cutting radar and radio for hours.[1] Amtrak blamed a New Jersey Transit construction crew for cutting the backup fiber, and New Jersey Transit pointed back at Amtrak.[1]
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said clearing the backlog of delays and cancellations would take time.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, September 21, 2026, the FAA’s Philadelphia air traffic control facility lost both its primary communications circuit and a backup fiber optic line, cutting radar and radio for hours.
- Newark Liberty International Airport had more than 600 cancellations Monday and no commercial landings from about 9:40 a.m. to just after 5:20 p.m. local time.
- More than 200 flights at Philadelphia International and additional flights at LaGuardia and JFK were canceled before operations resumed Monday evening.
- As of early Tuesday, September 22, Newark still had about 40 delays and nearly 60 cancellations, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said clearing delays would take time.
- Amtrak blamed a New Jersey Transit construction crew for cutting the backup fiber line, while New Jersey Transit pointed back at Amtrak.
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