Boston, MA – Passengers at Logan International Airport are still dealing with significant travel disruptions after a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon forced the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down airspace as a safety precaution. As of Saturday morning, Massport reported 47 delayed flights and 190 cancellations, with officials saying the situation may not be fully resolved until Thanksgiving.
What caused the outage?
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained that the outage stemmed from overloaded routers after a contractor replaced copper wiring, which interfered with the FAA’s communication systems and radar feeds. The FAA has ruled out a cyber‑attack or artificial‑intelligence involvement.
Passenger experiences
Travelers described the chaos in the terminals. One stranded passenger said, “We’re just sitting in there going, ‘OK, what?’” Another added, “A great nap helps, I will tell you that.” A woman expressed her confusion, saying, “It was scary because we didn’t know what was happening in the beginning… I can’t even think. Like 12, 24… I can’t. I am so out of it. I couldn’t find my phone in my pocket and my glasses on my face.”
Long lines at baggage claim and ticket counters added to the frustration. “It got rescheduled, rescheduled, delayed and then I had to come back,” one passenger recounted. Another noted, “The lines were insane. I guess because other folks were like, got canceled, so that episode continued, so folks coming in like myself are being merged with them. It’s just a whole lot of traffic.”
Massport’s response
Massport officials are urging travelers to check flight status frequently and allow extra time for security and boarding. They indicated that the worst of the disruption appears to be over, but airlines still have considerable recovery work ahead. The agency expects flight schedules to return to normal by Sunday night.
Looking ahead
While the immediate technical issue is being addressed, the incident highlights the vulnerability of the nation’s air‑travel infrastructure to equipment failures. Officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority and that the FAA will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Travelers with upcoming flights are advised to stay informed through airline notifications, the Massport website, or the FAA’s flight status tools. Those needing to make alternative arrangements should contact their carriers directly.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
