Circuit Failure Halts Flights at Major New York Airports
An electrical issue and a damaged backup system caused widespread travel disruptions.
A significant circuit failure led to an hours-long ground stop at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, causing widespread disruptions to air travel across the United States.
The electrical issue, described as a "single point of failure," resulted in the loss of essential radio and radar equipment, according to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Compounding the problem, officials discovered that a newly constructed fiber optic backup system had been damaged due to ongoing construction work. "Unfortunately, that circuit failed today," Bedford stated. "And when it went to flip into the backup, we discovered that the backup fiber had a break."
Bedford indicated that flights were expected to resume after 1:30 p.m. ET, but noted that repairs to the damaged backup system would likely take an additional 13 hours. The timeline for when the fiber optic backup was severed was not immediately clear.