By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Monday’s intensive talks focused on avoiding a standoff between U.S.-based wireless companies and the aviation industry that could lead to significant disruption in flights beginning Wednesday.

On Sunday, the chief executives of AT&T (NYSE:) and Verizon Communications (NYSE) denied a request by the company to defer Jan. 5, 5G, introduction of new wireless 5G service due to safety concerns in aviation but instead offered temporary new safeguards.

FAA and aviation industry raised concerns regarding interference by 5G with delicate aircraft electronics such radio altimeters. This could lead to flight interruptions.

Sara Nelson, President of AFA CWA and representative of 50,000 flight attendants across 17 airlines, asked wireless carriers for a 10-day delay in deployment to ensure precautionary measures.

Nelson, Monday’s MSNBC host said that “we are hopeful that the telecom firms come to its senses today.” If these flights could be at danger, we won’t take off.”

The carriers did not comment Monday, as negotiations with federal agencies were ongoing.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson had asked AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg Friday for a delay of up to two weeks.

According to officials briefed about the negotiations, Sunday’s White House asked each carrier to accept a temporary delay. A White House spokesperson declined comment.

Sunday’s statement by wireless providers stated that they will not use 5G within six months of airports, but denied any wider limitation to the C-Band spectrum. The FAA does not want this exclusion zone to be as wide as it is.

Airlines for America (NASDAQ:), FedEx(NYSE:) and others had requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), stop deployments around airports. This was to warn thousands of passengers each day.

FAA will soon issue notices describing restrictions placed on airports and flights due to potential interference.

The airline group warned Monday https://www.airlines.org/5G those FAA safety restrictions “will be highly disruptive to airline passengers and the shipping public.”

Wireless carriers that won the spectrum through a government auction worth $80billion had previously committed to taking precautionary measures to minimize interference for six month.