FAA blames error messages for switch to backup fiber line before outage

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Trending on The Hill - September 24, 2026

Trending on The Hill - September 24, 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) blamed error messages that caused the agency to switch to a backup fiber line that halted flights in multiple northeast airports this week.

The FAA said it was advised on Sunday by L3Harris, a technology contractor, to switch to the backup lines in order to begin troubleshooting at a Philadelphia air traffic control facility, according to Reuters. The agency continued that a New Jersey Transit contractor on Monday accidentally cut the backup fiber ⁠line.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said during a Wednesday conference that, “We need to get rid of the old system,” per Reuters.

“When it fails, ​we just don’t........

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