Major airports across the U.S. Northeast faced widespread delays and cancellations after an FAA communications outage.

WASHINGTON — September 22, 2026 — Thousands of flights across the U.S. Northeast were disrupted Monday after a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) telecommunications failure affected air traffic control operations.

The problem began at an FAA air traffic control facility in Philadelphia after a primary communications connection failed. A backup fiber-optic line was also unavailable after being accidentally damaged during construction work in New Jersey, according to reports.

The disruption affected major airports including Newark Liberty International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Reuters reported that FlightAware recorded about 7,000 delayed or canceled flights, including around 1,400 at the three major New York-area airports.

FAA and transportation officials said the telecommunications lines were repaired later Monday and airport operations began returning to normal. However, officials warned that existing delays could take time to clear, advising passengers to check directly with their airlines for updated flight information.

The incident has also renewed attention on the condition of the U.S. air traffic control system, as the federal government continues a major modernization effort. Congress approved $12.5 billion last year for upgrades to the system.