Construction Mishap Causes Major Flight Disruptions Across US
A severed Verizon fibre cable in New Jersey disrupted air travel across the United States on Monday, causing the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights. The cable, which plays a crucial role in air traffic control, was cut accidentally by construction crews, leading to significant operational issues, especially in the Northeast corridor.
Airlines Hit Hard by Fibre Cut
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the issue following a circuit failure linked to the damaged cable. This incident caused ground stops at major airports, including those in New York City. Although the fibre line has since been repaired, delays are expected to continue as airports work to accommodate affected flights. Flight tracking service FlightAware reported over 1,000 flight cancellations across the US by Monday evening.
Accountability Disputed Among Agencies
The responsibility for the incident has been contested among various parties. Verizon firmly placed the blame on the construction crews operating in the area, who they claim “dug up and cut our cable.” Meanwhile, disagreements persist regarding which company is specifically at fault.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the error to crews from Amtrak, but an AP report indicated Amtrak pointed fingers at New Jersey Transit. An Amtrak representative clarified that the incident “occurred on New Jersey Transit property and involved a New Jersey Transit contractor.”
Operations Resuming Amid Ongoing Delays
Though repairs to the telecom lines are complete and airport operations are resuming, Secretary Duffy warned that it will take time to resolve the backlog of delays. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities in infrastructure systems that can arise from unexpected events, impacting thousands of travellers across the country.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.