WASHINGTON — A circuit failure caused a ground stop Monday at all three major New York-area airports, snarling air travel across the US, officials said.
The electrical issue at a “single point of failure” led to loss of radio and radar equipment at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed.
Making matters worse, officials discovered that a newly built fiberoptic backup system had been damaged by construction work.
Planes taxi in front of an air traffic control tower at Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. AP
A United Airlines jetliner is parked away from the terminals at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, May 4, 2026. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
“Unfortunately, that circuit failed today,” Bedford said. “And when it went to flip into the backup, we discovered that the backup fiber had a break.”
The FAA boss said he anticipated that flights would resume sometime after 1:30 p.m. ET, but added that it would take at least 13 more hours to fix the backup system.
It was not immediately clear when the fiber-optic backup was severed.
An aerial view shows a terminal building, planes and tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on June 6, 2026. Gado via Getty Images
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.