A construction crew working on a completely unrelated project in New Jersey triggered one of the most disruptive days at American airports this year, and most of the travelers stranded by it never learned why until hours later.
On September 21, a primary data circuit failed at the Philadelphia facility responsible for directing air traffic into and out of Newark Liberty International, Teterboro and Philadelphia International. When controllers tried to fall back on the backup line, they discovered it had already been severed, reportedly by a construction or rail crew working somewhere between New Brunswick and Newark.
The Domino Effect Across Five Airports…