FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout

EVERETT, Wash. — After Everett’s Paine Field saw flight cancellations caused by the rollout of 5G cell service last week, the Federal Aviation Administration has given the green light to fly regional jets in and out of the airport.

Flights were put on hold due to fog and the rollout of the new 5G network, which caused fears that the network could interfere with altimeters used to measure altitude in planes, making it dangerous to land in low visibility conditions.

The FAA has been clearing different types of jets based on the equipment on board, and Alaska Airlines — the only commercial carrier that flies at Paine field — had to wait to fly its jets until it received approval.

With that approval, there should be no further 5G-related flight cancellations at Paine Field.

AT&T and Verizon agreed to temporarily halt the rollout of 5G around dozens of larger airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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