Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy provided an update on the recent airport disruptions in the Northeast during an interview with FOX Business. He indicated that the telecommunications issues have been resolved, and airport operations are gradually returning to normal, although delays are still anticipated.
“The telecom lines are fixed, and operations are resuming,” Duffy stated on X. He also advised passengers to check with airlines for any updates, as existing delays will take some time to clear.
The interruptions were caused by a severed fiber-optic line in New Jersey, which led to a telecommunications outage, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt flights in the region.
Earlier in the day, Duffy noted that a construction crew from Amtrak inadvertently cut into the fiber line, resulting in the aviation disruptions.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for increased funding to modernize our aging infrastructure, so we can prevent similar problems down the line,” Duffy added.
As of approximately 6:40 PM ET, Newark Liberty International Airport was experiencing average delays of around 306 minutes due to the outage, while Philadelphia International Airport was reporting average delays of 212 minutes. Teterboro Airport’s delays averaged 159 minutes, and both John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport reported average delays of 72 and 67 minutes, respectively.
Earlier in the day, the FAA informed FOX News that it had paused flights into Philadelphia, Teterboro, and Newark due to “issues with some frequencies at Philadelphia TRACON.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained that the primary communications circuit for Philadelphia TRACON was lost. When controllers attempted to switch to a backup system, they discovered a damaged fiber-optic cable.
Duffy commented that these issues aren’t new and that the department is actively working to upgrade the FAA’s equipment and telecommunications systems.
“These problems can happen; we’re aware of that,” he mentioned, emphasizing the need for financial support to modernize systems fully. He conveyed that they are working on their telecom architecture, which requires significant investment.
Duffy explained that the ongoing improvements are being pursued even before securing all the needed funding, but once the cash flow is established, progress can accelerate.
“This type of outage, while unfortunate, isn’t a surprise to us,” Duffy remarked.
Meanwhile, Amtrak contested Duffy’s account, asserting that the fiber-optic disruption was not caused by its crew, but rather, it involved a New Jersey Transit contractor on their property. Amtrak urged that inquiries regarding the incident be directed to New Jersey Transit.
At the time of reporting, neither the FAA nor New Jersey Transit had responded to requests for clarification from FOX Business.
