The disruption was linked to issues affecting some frequencies at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), the facility responsible for managing air traffic approaching and departing airports in the region.
The FAA issued a ground stop for flights bound for Philadelphia during the morning, while operations at Newark and Teterboro were also affected. Departing flights at the affected airports experienced delays as the restrictions continued. The FAA said flights heading to Philadelphia, Newark and Teterboro should remain on the ground during the applicable ground-stop periods.
The disruption also resulted in flight diversions to other airports. According to Reuters, FlightAware reported that more than 600 flights at Newark and Philadelphia, representing more than 20% of operations at the two airports, had been delayed. Flightradar24 reported average delays of 112 minutes at Newark.
Local reporting also recorded cancellations during the disruption. KYW Newsradio reported 53 cancellations associated with Philadelphia International Airport and 210 at Newark Liberty International Airport at the time of its afternoon update. The figures were based on flight-tracking information and were subject to change as operations continued.
Philadelphia TRACON uses radar and radio systems to guide aircraft approaching and departing airports in the area. The FAA spokesperson said the flights were being paused “due to issues with some frequencies at Philadelphia TRACON.”
The equipment problem affected more than the three airports initially subject to the ground stop. Reports later indicated that John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport also experienced ground stops, while Boston Logan International Airport faced additional traffic volume after flights were diverted from Philadelphia.
The FAA subsequently reported that normal operations had returned at Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro following a temporary radar feed issue at Philadelphia TRACON. The agency said it was investigating the cause and monitoring data transmissions between facilities.
The September 21 disruption follows previous technical and communications problems involving air traffic control facilities serving the region. Reuters reported that the facility handling traffic around Newark experienced significant communications outages in May 2025, while the FAA said a telecommunications outage in 2025 had also affected communications and radar displays at Philadelphia TRACON.
In September 2025, the FAA extended operational limits at Newark Liberty International Airport through October 24, 2026, citing staffing and equipment challenges. The agency said at the time that it had transitioned to a new fiber-optic communications network between New York and Philadelphia TRACON and was establishing additional redundancy measures.
The latest disruption occurred as the FAA and US authorities continue work on air traffic control infrastructure and staffing. Reuters reported that Congress approved $12.5 billion in 2025 for upgrades to the US air traffic control system and additional controller hiring.
The FAA’s September 21 disruption was separate from a Government Accountability Office report released the same day concerning vulnerabilities in communications between air traffic controllers and commercial aircraft. Reuters reported that the GAO identified shortcomings in FAA risk assessments, security documentation and real-time monitoring for potential spectrum-related threats. The FAA agreed with the report’s nine recommendations.
Tags: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
