The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) starting at 9:40 a.m. local time on August 28, 2026, due to severe thunderstorms in the New York City area. The ground stop was anticipated to continue until at least 10:00 a.m., halting departures and arrivals and triggering cascading delays for subsequent flights scheduled at Newark.
According to FlightAware data as of 9:45 a.m. EDT, the storm system disrupted nationwide air traffic, causing 1,522 total flight delays and 172 cancellations within, arriving into, or departing from the United States. The impact was pronounced at New
York City’s other major airports. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) reported 42 cancellations—representing 7% of scheduled flights—and 101 delays, which accounted for 18% of flights at the airport. Flights into LaGuardia were delayed by an average of more than 90 minutes. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), although not under a ground stop, experienced 19 cancellations and 48 delays as of that morning.
Traveler Disruptions and Airline Policies
Passengers traveling through Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK on August 28 faced extensive delays and cancellations due to the severe weather and FAA restrictions. The FAA ground stop and ongoing storm conditions compounded wait times, with delayed flights averaging over
one hour at Newark once the stop lifted. Major airlines operating from these airports issued flexible travel waivers that permitted passengers to change or rebook flights without incurring change fees or fare differences.
LaGuardia’s Role in the Disruption
LaGuardia emerged as one of the most affected airport hubs globally during the morning of August 28, 2026, with nearly a fifth of its flights delayed and cancellations affecting 7% of its operations. The severe thunderstorms impacted the entire New York City airport network, causing delays and cancellations to cascade across Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports, intensifying travel disruptions for the region’s air traffic.
