WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Elon Musk on Thursday

said a U.S, Federal Aviation Administration communication system

operated by Verizon is months away from failure and

putting air safety at risks.

Musk, the world's richest person and a senior adviser to

President Donald Trump who is working on restructuring the

federal government, owns the Starlink satellite system which is

a rival to Verizon's. Verizon operates the largest U.S. wireless

network.

"The Verizon communication system to air traffic control is

breaking down very rapidly. The FAA assessment is single digit

months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at

serious risk," Musk, said in a post on social media platform X.

This week, the FAA said it was testing three Starlink

terminals at a government facility in Alaska to address concerns

about reliable weather information for the aviation community in

that state.

"The FAA has been considering the use of Starlink since

the prior administration to increase reliability at remote

sites, including in Alaska," the FAA said this week. The agency

did not immediately comment on Musk's tweet.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the FAA was

close to canceling a $2.4 billion contract awarded to Verizon in

2023 to overhaul a communications system, and awarding the work

to Musk's Starlink. The FAA said it has not made any decision on

the contract.

Verizon did not immediately comment on Musk's remarks.

The company said this week company it was at the beginning of a

15-year contract with the FAA "that will help the agency

modernize its technology. Protecting Americans who rely on a

safe, secure and functioning air traffic control system is more

important than ever, and our enhancements will help make that

happen."