Stray Bullet Disrupts Internet for Thousands in North Texas

DALLAS, Texas — A stray bullet struck a fiber optic cable on Friday, causing a major internet outage for thousands of Spectrum customers in North Texas. Connectivity issues began around 1 p.m. and were largely resolved by 4 p.m.

The outage affected nearly 25,000 users across North and Central Texas, according to DownDetector, an online outage tracking website. Dallas faced the most significant disruptions, with notable issues reported in nearby cities such as Irving, Plano, Arlington, Austin, and San Antonio.

A spokesperson for Spectrum informed FOX 4 that the damage to the fiber optic cable was the reason for the outage. “Our teams worked quickly to make the necessary repairs and get customers back online. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the spokesperson stated.

The incident also impacted air traffic in the area, temporarily halting operations at both Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field. However, specifics on the extent of the air traffic disruption were not provided.

Spectrum, a large telecommunications provider, did not disclose the exact location of the damaged cable but confirmed that repairs were completed swiftly. By late afternoon, most affected customers had their internet service restored.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of internet infrastructure and the potential for unexpected events to disrupt essential services.