09/21/2026
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communications outage is causing significant air travel disruptions across the northeastern United States after a construction crew accidentally severed a fiber-optic cable in New Jersey on September 21. The outage prompted ground stops and disrupted air traffic operations at several major airports in the New York City and Philadelphia regions, including Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Teterboro Airport (TEB), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). More than 1,000 flights have been delayed or canceled flights at Newark and Philadelphia airports, and some inbound flights have been diverted to alternate airports. Authorities are working to restore service and repair damaged infrastructure, though disruptions continue to affect air traffic operations across the region.
Travelers should anticipate ongoing flight delays, cancellations and schedule adjustments at affected airports. While flight operations have resumed at some airports, including Philadelphia International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, delays continue across portions of the regional air traffic network. Travelers connecting through airports in the New York City metropolitan area or Philadelphia should confirm flight status directly with their airline before departure and allow extra time for travel.
- Monitor local news for updates & follow all official directives.
- Explore alternative travel arrangements.
- Allow additional time for check-in and security procedures.
- Keep records of travel-related expenses for potential reimbursement.
