Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized L3Harris for a mishap that caused a nationwide ground stop on Friday night. The incident occurred during a transition from copper to fiber optic telecommunications lines, which overloaded the air traffic control system. Duffy stated that investigations are underway to determine whether the issue was due to contractor error or faulty equipment. He also highlighted the need for modernization of the FAA's systems, as the agency continues to rely on L3Harris until additional funding is secured.
Key facts
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a press conference on November 14, 2026.
- The ground stop was caused by a mishap during a switch from copper to fiber optic lines.
- Duffy stated there were over 1,000 connection attempts every four to five seconds.
- 69% of copper communication wires have been updated to fiber.
- Thousands of flights were canceled on Saturday, with normal operations expected by Sunday.
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