NYC Airports Face Delays After Air Traffic Control Outage
Flights at New York’s major airports were disrupted after a technical problem at an air traffic control facility in Philadelphia, snarling travel and delaying the arrival of visitors for the United Nations General Assembly.
Flights across New York's major airports faced disruptions following a technical issue at a Philadelphia air traffic control center, causing delays for the United Nations General Assembly. A ground stop was implemented at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airport, which handles private jets, according to the FAA. The FAA lifted earlier ground stops for LaGuardia, JFK International, and Philadelphia International Airport.
As of 3 p.m., Newark had 209 flights (37% of scheduled departures) canceled, with an equal number of arrivals also canceled. Philadelphia experienced average departure delays over three hours and Teterboro over five hours as of 3 p.m. local time. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford apologized for the delays and cancellations, emphasizing flight safety.
The outage resulted from a primary circuit failure at a Philadelphia facility, with a cut in a backup fiber optic cable that will take about 13 hours to repair. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed an accidental cut by an Amtrak construction crew, while Verizon Communications stated the cable was damaged by a transportation contractor digging in the area.
The FAA had to shut down multiple Northeast airports for repair, but some have since resumed operations. United Airlines offered free rebooking for affected customers until Sept. 23. The Philadelphia facility has faced major technology breakdowns in 2025, highlighting the need for modernized air traffic control equipment.
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