The CEOs of the world's two largest plane manufacturers have urged the US government

In a letter, top executives from Boeing and Airbus warned that the technology could have "an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry."

Concerns have previously been expressed that 5G wireless in the C-Band spectrum could interfere with aircraft electronics. AT&T and Verizon, two of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, launch 5G services on January 5.

"5G interference could impair aircraft's ability to operate safely," said Dave Calhoun and Jeffrey Knittel, CEOs of Boeing and Airbus Americas, in a joint letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

According to the letter, if the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 5G rules had been in effect in 2019, approximately 345,000 passenger flights and 5,400 cargo flights would have experienced delays, diversions, or cancellations.

"Airbus and Boeing have been working with other aviation industry stakeholders in the US to understand potential 5G interference with radio altimeters," according to a statement from Airbus.

"An Aviation Safety Proposal to mitigate potential risks has been submitted to the US Department of Transportation for consideration."

This month, the FAA issued airworthiness directives warning that 5G interference could cause flight delays, stating that more information would be provided before the January 5 rollout date.

Aviation industry groups have said the measures are insufficient, and Boeing and Airbus have proposed a counterproposal that would limit cellular transmissions around airports and other critical areas.

Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated that the FAA's 5G directives would prohibit the use of radio altitude meters at approximately 40 of America's busiest airports.

CTIA, the US wireless industry group, has stated that 5G is safe and has accused the aviation industry of fear-mongering and distorting facts.

"A delay will cause significant harm. Pushing back deployment by one year would cost $50 billion in economic growth at a time when our country is still recovering and rebuilding from the pandemic, "CTIA CEO Meredith Attwell Baker stated in a blog post last month.