A "catastrophic" aviation crisis may unfold in less than 36 hours due to the deployment of new 5G service, warned the chief executives of major US passenger and cargo carriers on Monday.
The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, "could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas" and cause "chaos" for US flights.
"Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and the shipping public will essentially be grounded," wrote the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.
"This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions, or delays," the letter cautioned.
The airlines are also looking to begin canceling some international flights, which are scheduled to arrive in the US on Wednesday.
In the letter, the airlines added that action is urgently needed. It has also been signed by
Alaska Air, Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways, UPS Airlines, and FedEx Express.
The letter has been sent to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, "could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas" and cause "chaos" for US flights.
"Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and the shipping public will essentially be grounded," wrote the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.
"This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions, or delays," the letter cautioned.
The airlines are also looking to begin canceling some international flights, which are scheduled to arrive in the US on Wednesday.
In the letter, the airlines added that action is urgently needed. It has also been signed by
Alaska Air, Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways, UPS Airlines, and FedEx Express.
The letter has been sent to White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
