Copper Wire Repairs Trigger Nationwide Flight Disruption (france24.com)

A maintenance upgrade replacing old copper wire with high-speed fiber caused communication and radar-feed problems, prompting a four-hour nationwide ground stop lifted at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Friday. FAA chief Bryan Bedford said 12,000 flights were canceled Friday and predicted a full return to schedules by Sunday; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sought $50 billion to modernize air traffic control.