5G rollout delays flights

Multiple airlines canceled or delayed flights to the United States ahead of an anticipated 5G rollout scheduled for Wednesday even though wireless carriers agreed on Tuesday to pause the deployment around some airports.

Airlines including Emirates canceled flights with Boeing 777s due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s warning that 5G interference could affect height cockpit readings, Reuters reported.

Emirates, which is the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777, announced that its cancellations were due to “operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the U.S. at certain airports,” The Associated Press noted.

“We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers and the relevant authorities to alleviate operational concerns, and we hope to resume our U.S. services as soon as possible,” the airline added.

Both AT&T and Verizon announced on Tuesday that they would temporarily halt their plans to roll out 5G near major airports in the U.S.

But airline industry insiders told Reuters that the wireless providers’ decision came too late to allow them to adjust flights on Wednesday.

The president of Emirates airline on Wednesday said the rollout of 5G technology has been “utterly irresponsible,” as some international airlines scramble to cancel flights to the U.S. amid concerns that the new technology may cause travel disruptions.

When asked during an interview with CNN what he makes of the 5G rollout in the U.S., Tim Clark said it is “one of the most delinquent, utterly irresponsible issue, subjects, call it what you like, I’ve seen in my aviation career.”

“Somebody should have told them a long time ago that it would compromise safety of operation of aircraft in metropolitan areas with catastrophic consequences if this was allowed to continue,” said the 50-year industry veteran. “I think that message got through at a very late stage.”