More than 100 departing flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday morning, July 21, 2026, as severe thunderstorms swept across North Jersey and the Northeast United States. The storms produced heavy rain, frequent dangerous lightning, and persistent air traffic restrictions.
The Federal Aviation Administration halted all ground ramp operations Monday night due to the hazardous lightning, which made it unsafe for ramp crews to operate. This pause in ground activity caused arriving flights to wait on the tarmac while departures remained grounded, leaving some passengers delayed aboard aircraft for over seven hours.
Delays and cancellations extended beyond
Newark, affecting inbound and outbound flights throughout the Northeast and Midwest air travel networks. This cascading disruption impacted hundreds of travelers in the New York metropolitan area and neighboring regions.
Major airlines including United Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines have issued travel waivers permitting customers affected by cancellations to rebook flights without change fees. Passengers with canceled flights are also entitled to full cash refunds under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations if they choose not to travel.
Air traffic and weather conditions continue to fluctuate, prompting the FAA and airlines to monitor the situation closely as operations slowly resume. Travelers
are advised to confirm flight status before traveling to the airport due to ongoing uncertainties.
