Hundreds of flights were canceled, delayed or diverted Monday after a Verizon cable cut in New Jersey severed a backup data feed used by air traffic controllers, according to federal and state officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration paused arrivals to Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, and ordered nearly 100 planes en route, including long-haul flights from Europe, to divert to other U.S. airports. Flight tracking data showed more than 600 flights in and out of Newark canceled by 6 p.m. with nearly 100 delayed, while Philadelphia recorded more than 200 cancellations and over 400 delays.
Flights began resuming Monday evening after repairs, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X.
Verizon cable cut
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the disruption began with a primary circuit failure. When systems attempted to switch to the backup, technicians discovered the backup fiber had been severed. The outage affected the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON, which manages approach and departure flows for Newark and Philadelphia.
NJ Transit said a construction crew working on a rail project between New Brunswick and North Brunswick accidentally cut a fiber-optic line at a site about 10 feet from utility markings. The agency said staff were on site assessing repairs and determining whether the markings had been made by Verizon or the contractor.
As the day progressed, the FAA also briefly halted arrivals to New York City’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports. Operations were resuming by late afternoon, though delays persisted.
Verizon said contractors in the area dug up and cut its cable and stated its network had been fully functional before the damage. The company said it dispatched technicians immediately and was working to restore connectivity as quickly as possible.
Airports and airlines respond
The disruption affected Newark Liberty International Airport, United Airlines’ busiest international hub, Philadelphia International Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
United waived change fees for impacted travelers, offered extra pay for crews to pick up trips in Newark and provided confirmed commuting space to the New York City area. American Airlines, which operates a hub in Philadelphia, also waived change fees and allowed customers to depart from alternative airports.
More than 100 flights bound for Newark diverted, according to Flightradar24, including international services from Iceland, Egypt, Greece, Spain and France. A United flight from Berlin diverted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, while an SAS service from Stockholm was sent to Washington Dulles International Airport.
Infrastructure concerns highlighted by Verizon cable cut
Airline leaders have long cited aging air traffic control equipment and technology challenges. The Trump administration last year announced a multibillion-dollar plan to upgrade U.S. air traffic control systems and resources.
Duffy said Monday’s events show the need for additional funding to modernize infrastructure to prevent similar disruptions.
The flight issues unfolded hours before President Donald Trump and other international leaders were scheduled to arrive in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
In recent years, increased demand for faster broadband and 5G connectivity has also heightened attention on network resilience for major carriers such as Verizon. The United Nations maintains details about the upcoming gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly.