A failed primary circuit and a severed backup fiber line brought air travel across the Northeast to a near standstill yesterday. There is plenty of finger-pointing over who cut the cable, but the more troubling question is why one damaged backup line could cripple some of the busiest airspace in the world.
Arriving flights were halted for hours, more than 100 aircraft were diverted, and approximately 7,000 flights were delayed or cancelled nationwide. More than 600 flights were cancelled at Newark alone, where no commercial flights landed for nearly eight hours.
The timing was particularly unfortunate, with approximately 130 world leaders arriving in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
