Airports across the U.S. Northeast were thrown into chaos Monday after a construction crew accidentally severed a backup fiber‑optic line supporting air traffic control equipment in New Jersey.
The outage hit the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages arriving and departing aircraft in the region.
Passengers Urged to Monitor Flight Status
Newark Liberty International Airport was hardest hit, with more than 500 flights canceled and over 200 delayed. Philadelphia, JFK, and LaGuardia also faced widespread disruptions, with flights diverted to cities including Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Orlando. Some transatlantic flights even turned back mid‑journey.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the mishap, noting that repairs were completed by Monday evening. “It will take some time to clear all existing delays,” he said, urging passengers to check with airlines for updates.
By Tuesday morning, operations had largely normalized, though Newark still reported dozens of cancellations.
New Jersey Transit said the incident occurred on its property, involving a contractor working near utility markings. Verizon confirmed the damaged cable belonged to them but stressed their technicians were not responsible for the cut.
While connectivity has been restored, questions remain over accountability and whether airlines will compensate stranded passengers.
