When a construction crew accidentally cut a fiber‑optic cable on New Jersey Transit property on Monday, the resulting loss of network connectivity forced the shutdown of dozens of flights to and from major East Coast airports. The disruption, which affected both domestic and trans‑Atlantic services, left thousands of travelers stranded and seeking answers.
U.S. law guarantees a full cash refund
Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, told Fox News Digital that U.S. domestic regulations require airlines to provide a full cash refund when a flight is cancelled for reasons outside the carrier’s control. “Under U.S. domestic law on flights, the rules are that you’re entitled to a full cash refund,” Napoli said.
He added that the same principle applies to passengers on flights to or from Europe. While European regulations can award up to $700 in compensation when an airline is directly responsible for a delay, the fiber‑optic outage was a “tower‑to‑ground issue” beyond the airline’s control, meaning no additional European‑style payment is due.
Airlines’ rebooking offers affect refund rights
Napoli warned that travelers who accept an airline’s offer to rebook the cancelled flight forfeit the right to a cash refund. “If you decide to take the flight, then you wouldn’t get your money back because you have consumed a service,” he explained. He urged passengers to consider whether they truly need to travel before agreeing to a new itinerary.
How to secure your refund quickly
According to Napoli, the key is proactivity. “Generally, if you don’t ask for it, you’re not going to get it, so you have to be pretty proactive,” he said. He recommended that travelers contact the airline directly, use the carrier’s app to track rebooking options, and keep records of all communications.
AirHelp offers a 24/7 chat service and a mobile app that can alert users to flight status changes, making it easier to file for refunds or pursue compensation under European rules when applicable. “The airlines have gotten really good now with offering rescheduled flights in their apps, because a situation like this is also a headache for them,” Napoli noted.
Official responses
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initially blamed Amtrak for the cancellations, suggesting a construction crew had cut the cable. Amtrak quickly issued a statement clarifying that the incident occurred on New Jersey Transit property and involved a New Jersey Transit contractor. The transit agency added that the crew was digging approximately ten feet away from utility markings when the cable was severed.
New Jersey Transit confirmed its involvement but did not dispute the distance from the markings, emphasizing that the outage was unrelated to airline operations.
Practical advice for stranded passengers
Napoli concluded with a reminder to stay calm and courteous when dealing with airline and airport staff. “Getting angry at the people at the airport desk doesn’t help the situation — it just makes you angrier,” he said. He encouraged travelers to remain informed, use available tools, and approach the refund process with patience and persistence.
For more detailed guidance, passengers can visit AirHelp’s website or download its app, which provides step‑by‑step instructions for filing refund requests and navigating compensation rules.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
