● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Cut Verizon Fiber Cable Disrupts Hundreds of US Flights, Blame Disputed
Key points
- Construction crews cut a Verizon fiber cable in New Jersey.
- The cable supported air traffic control operations.
- Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed across the US.
- Verizon, Amtrak, and NJ Transit dispute responsibility.
Flight Disruptions Due to Cable Cut
On Monday, hundreds of flights across the United States experienced cancellations and delays. This disruption stemmed from a Verizon fiber cable, essential for air traffic control, being accidentally severed by construction crews in New Jersey. The incident led to significant operational issues, particularly affecting airports in the Northeast.
Impact on Air Travel
The cable outage resulted in ground stops at all three major New York City airports. According to FlightAware, over 1,000 flights were canceled nationwide on the day of the incident. Although the telecom lines have been repaired, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that it would take time to clear all existing delays.
Discovery and Repair
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that a circuit failure initially led to the discovery of the severed fiber cable. Verizon confirmed the line has been repaired. Despite the repair, the lingering effects of the disruption continued to cause delays.
Disputed Responsibility
Responsibility for cutting the cable remains disputed. Verizon stated it bore "no responsibility," attributing the cut to "construction contractors working in the area." US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initially indicated an Amtrak crew was responsible, but Amtrak countered, blaming a New Jersey Transit crew and stating the incident occurred on New Jersey Transit property involving a New Jersey Transit contractor.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Hundreds of flights across the US were canceled or delayed after construction crews in New Jersey accidentally cut a Verizon fiber cable used for air traffic control. The incident caused ground stops at major New York City airports and led to over 1,000 canceled flights, with various parties disputing responsibility for the cable cut.