Flight Nightmare Unfolds: East Coast Airports Ground to a Halt

A severe storm system swept through the East Coast on Monday evening, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations at major airports from New York to Washington, D.C. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground delays at several airports, including New York City’s JFK International Airport, where the average departure delay lasted approximately 90 minutes.

Newark Liberty Airport was particularly hard hit, with delays of up to four hours due to thunderstorms and ongoing staffing shortages. The airport’s disruptions are expected to impact flights until 2:00 a.m. LaGuardia Airport also experienced significant delays, with flights delayed by up to three hours. Philadelphia International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport saw delays averaging around two hours.

The situation is further complicated by the upcoming holiday weekend, which typically sees a surge in air travel. According to data from FlightAware, approximately 600 flights were canceled and 1,900 delayed across the five airports, with LaGuardia leading the pack with around 180 cancellations and 400 delays. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for updates and plan accordingly to minimize disruptions.