Random error paralyzed US airports – details
An Amtrak construction crew accidentally cut a major Verizon fiber optic cable in New Jersey, causing a collapse at major airports on the US East Coast. Over 6,000 flights were delayed, and about 1,000 were canceled. The backup system also failed. The incident occurred on the day world leaders arrived for the UN General Assembly.
An Amtrak construction crew accidentally cut a major Verizon fiber optic cable in New Jersey, leading to a massive collapse at major airports on the US East Coast. The disruptions affected Newark Liberty, Teterboro, Philadelphia, New York's John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, and Boston Logan airports. At Newark alone, United Airlines canceled or delayed over a thousand flights. Nationwide statistics show six thousand delays and about a thousand cancellations. Passengers waited from 45 minutes to seven hours. The situation was worsened by the failure of the backup communication system. FAA head Brian Bedford reported that the spare cable was also damaged. Restoring the line took about thirteen hours. The incident occurred on the day about 130 world leaders arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the completion of repairs and warned that clearing the delays would take time. The official emphasized the worn-out aviation infrastructure, which requires urgent funding.