US flights disrupted after construction workers cut key cable

Numerous flights encountered delays at major US airports on Monday afternoon due to construction workers inadvertently cutting a cable essential for air traffic control. Ground stops and delays were imposed at airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that the cable had been fixed, though delays were expected to continue.

The disruption occurred ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, where numerous world leaders were scheduled to arrive at New York-area airports, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The issue arose when a damaged cable affected the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, utilized for guiding planes during takeoff and landing.

New Jersey's public transportation agency, NJ Transit, acknowledged that its workers had mistakenly severed the line during construction. The Federal Aviation Administration attributed the telecom outage to Amtrak, the national operator of intercity railroad services, which was performing the construction work. The severed cable was a backup network, with the error only identified after the primary circuit failed, according to FAA head Bryan Bedford.

Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the three major airports serving New York City, experienced the most significant impact, with 267 departing and 257 incoming flights delayed. Passengers like Douglas Tewnion, who flew from Edinburgh to New York, reported being diverted to Boston and stranded for two hours due to the delays.