The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey as of 9:40 a.m. local time on August 27, 2026, due to thunderstorms. The ground stop was expected to last at least until 10:00 a.m. and resulted in cascading delays affecting flights scheduled throughout the day.
Delays and Cancellations at LaGuardia and JFK
Severe weather also imposed a ground delay at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City, where flights were experiencing average delays exceeding 90 minutes by 9:40 a.m. LaGuardia reported 42 cancellations, representing 7% of scheduled flights, and 101 delays, or 18% of flights, that morning. Meanwhile,
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) faced significant disruption with 19 cancellations and 48 delays despite no ground stop being in place.
National Airspace Disruptions and Airline Responses
FlightAware data reviewed at 9:45 a.m. EDT on August 27 showed 1,522 total delays and 172 cancellations nationally within, into, or out of the United States on the day. Several major New York-based airlines issued flexible travel waivers for passengers flying on August 27, allowing rebooking or flight changes without associated fees.
The FAA coordinated the ground stop at Newark as a precautionary response to severe thunderstorms impacting the New York City area. The measure was intended to
manage air traffic safety and traffic flow amid hazardous weather conditions that disrupted operations at multiple airports in the region.
