The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops at multiple major airports across the Northeast on Monday after a fiber optic cable was accidentally severed at a construction site in New Jersey, snarling air travel for thousands of passengers.
The disruptions initially affected John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and Teterboro Airport (TEB), according to the FAA's National Airspace System Status page. Ground delays were also implemented at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and PHL, with average departure delays ranging from 44 minutes at LGA to 105 minutes at BOS and a staggering 212 minutes at PHL.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told reporters that the 600-foot fiber cable was cut "somewhere between" New Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey. "Somebody dug it up," Bedford said, as captured on video by CBS News's Kris Van Cleave. He later clarified that the cut occurred earlier on Monday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the outage to an Amtrak construction crew that accidentally cut into the fiber line, causing a "telecom outage" and the subsequent flight disruptions. Duffy noted that flights would resume at LGA and PHL but remain paused at EWR, JFK, and TEB. In a social media post, Duffy said, "This incident underscores the need for additional funding to modernize aging infrastructure and prevent disruptions like this in the future."
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the nation's critical infrastructure. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Trump last year, allocated $12.5 billion to the FAA for modernizing the national air traffic control system. However, aviation officials have requested an additional $10 billion from Congress to complete upgrades, a request that gains urgency in light of Monday's disruption.
The timing of the ground stops added to the chaos, as world leaders, including President Trump, were arriving in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly this week. The ripple effects extended beyond the immediate airports, with the FAA imposing a ground stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) until at least 4 p.m. EDT.
Data from FlightAware showed that at Newark, roughly one in three departing flights were canceled, with another 96 flights—about 17 percent of departures—delayed. The disruptions also placed strain on other airports in the region, as airlines scrambled to reroute aircraft and accommodate stranded passengers.
This incident comes amid broader debates about federal infrastructure spending and the need to upgrade aging systems. Lawmakers have been grappling with similar challenges in other sectors, such as the push for a federal fix to shield college sports from legal chaos, and calls for federal oversight of emerging technologies like AI, modeled on nuclear controls. The FAA's reliance on outdated technology has been a recurring concern, and Monday's events are likely to intensify pressure on Congress to act.
As the FAA works to restore normal operations, travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight status. The agency said it is investigating the incident and coordinating with Amtrak to prevent future occurrences.
