On November 12, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed flight restrictions including ground stops at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport, alongside a ground delay program at Newark Liberty International Airport. These actions were triggered by heavy rain and thunderstorms affecting the New York metropolitan area.
At LaGuardia Airport, a ground stop commenced at 1:27 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), initially scheduled to end at 3:45 p.m., with a 30% to 60% chance of extension. LaGuardia also operated under a ground delay program starting at 1 p.m. ET, which was set to remain effective until 11:59 p.m.
Flights subject to this delay program were experiencing average arrival delays of 63 minutes. Newark Liberty International Airport activated a ground delay program at 2:37 p.m., where arriving flights were averaging 137 minutes in delay. At JFK Airport, a ground stop began at 2:49 p.m. ET with an expected end time of 3:45 p.m., also carrying a 30% to 60% probability of extension.
Delays, Cancellations, and Flood Advisory
FlightAware snapshots during the afternoon reported 215 delayed flights and 10 cancellations at LaGuardia as of 1:31 p.m., 131 delays and six cancellations at Newark as of 2:24 p.m., and 239 delays with 24 cancellations at JFK
around 3:16 p.m. A flood advisory issued for areas including Newark was in effect until 1:45 p.m. ET because of heavy rainfall causing minor flooding in low-lying locations. The National Weather Service forecasts continued rainfall across the metropolitan region into Friday, alongside potential minor coastal flooding.
Weather Conditions and FAA Monitoring
The FAA attributed the air travel disruptions to thunderstorm activity and heavy rainfall across the New York metro area. The agency continues to monitor conditions closely and has indicated that additional air traffic restrictions could be implemented as the weather system progresses through the Northeast.
Passenger Impact and Operational Delays
Passengers arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport faced average
delays exceeding two hours, with Newark flights averaging 137 minutes late under the ongoing ground delay program. Meanwhile, LaGuardia’s delay program resulted in average arrival delays of just over an hour. The ground stops holding flights on the ground at JFK and LaGuardia contributed to a buildup of delays and cancellations, disrupting operations across all three airports.
FAA Restrictions and Air Traffic Management
The FAA’s use of ground stops at JFK and LaGuardia required affected flights to remain on the ground until the restriction was lifted, directly preventing further arrivals. Concurrently, ground delay programs at LaGuardia and Newark managed the flow of incoming flights by assigning
departure times to moderate airport arrival rates and prevent congestion. These control measures affected aircraft departing from airports well beyond the New York area, extending delays across the broader national air traffic network.
