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Flights at major US airports delayed after cable cut by construction workers
BBC • • business
Key Points:
- Hundreds of flights were delayed across major US airports, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, after construction workers accidentally cut a critical cable for air traffic control.
- The disruption affected the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, essential for guiding planes during takeoff and landing, leading to ground stops and delays.
- The cable damage was caused by Amtrak construction workers, with markers incorrectly placed at the digging site, and the issue was only discovered after the primary circuit failed since the severed cable was a backup network.
- Newark Liberty International Airport was the most impacted, with over 500 flights delayed in total, while JFK, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia airports also experienced delays.
- US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the cable was repaired hours later, allowing airports to resume normal operations, though delays were still expected ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York City.
