The Federal Aviation Administration imposed ground stops on August 12, 2026, affecting flights headed to the three major New York City-area airports—John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR). These holds were triggered by thunderstorms impacting the tri-state region and remained in effect until 6:30 p.m. at JFK and LaGuardia, and 6 p.m. at Newark, with the FAA indicating a likely extension.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Concentrated at LaGuardia and Combined Newark-JFK Operations
By 4:15 p.m. local time, flights destined for all three airports experienced delays exceeding two hours. More than 200 flights bound for LaGuardia were delayed, and nearly 100 flights en route to that airport were cancelled. Newark
and JFK together recorded over 300 delayed flights, according to available data. These disruptions reflect significant operational impacts from the FAA’s ground stop measures implemented due to the thunderstorms.
