New York subway outage blamed on someone accidentally pressing the “power off” button

Investigators investigating a New York subway outage that lasted several hours found on Friday that the incident was likely due to someone accidentally pressing an emergency stop button.

In reports issued by the New York government. Kathy hochulKathy HochulOvernight Energy & Environment – Spotlight on solar power Hochul signs law requiring zero-emission passenger vehicles by 2035 Five big questions after millions lose federal unemployment assistance MORE (D), who commissioned a review of the Aug. 29 disruption of operations control centers through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), investigators found there was a “strong possibility” that the button was mistakenly pressed due to the fact that the plastic guard created to prevent such situations was lacking, according to the Associated Press.

The August blackout reportedly affected more than 80 trains spanning the numbered metro lines and the L train.

“New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in a fully functioning subway system, and it is our duty to restore that confidence,” Hochul said in a statement, according to the AP.

The button was pressed during a brief drop in power in which several pieces of mechanical equipment at the New York City Transit rail control center stopped working. Once the button was pressed, all electrical equipment lost power, the AP reported.

Officials told the outlet that service was further delayed to be restored on time that day due to train passengers exiting on the tracks instead of waiting for service to resume. They added that the loss of power was due to human error.

Janno Lieber, acting chairman and chief executive of the MTA, told the AP that the agency is actively working to better manage and maintain the systems that support the control center.