Flights at Newark, JFK, LaGuardia airports disrupted due to equipment outage, FAA says, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/flights-at-newark-jfk-laguardia-airports-disrupted-due-to-equipment-outage-faa-says/ar-AA2cGMfK?ocid=BingNewsVerp)

The news reports a major travel disruption across the New York metropolitan area and surrounding regions caused by a critical Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) equipment failure.

Key Details of the Outage

• Affected Airports: Ground stops and extensive delays were triggered for flights into and out of Newark Liberty International (EWR), John F. Kennedy International (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA), with ripple effects extending to Philadelphia International and Teterboro airports.

• The Root Cause: The disruption was traced to a telecommunications failure at Philadelphia TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), the air traffic facility responsible for guiding aircraft approaching and departing through that regional airspace.

• Technical Failure: The primary communications circuit failed, and its backup line simultaneously suffered a major fiber cut located between New Brunswick and Newark. The fiber break was described as extensive, requiring an estimated 13 hours to repair while crews worked to bring a replacement circuit online.

• Travel Impact: The outage led to ground stops spanning several hours, dozens of flight diversions away from Newark, and mounting regional delays. Major carriers, including United Airlines, began issuing travel waivers and fee waivers for affected passengers, advising travelers to monitor their flight statuses directly with airlines.