More than 100 departing flights were canceled on the morning of July 21, 2026, at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, after severe thunderstorms swept through North Jersey and the Northeast United States.
The storms brought heavy rain, frequent lightning, and imposed repeated air traffic restrictions. The Federal Aviation Administration halted ground operations at Newark Liberty Airport on the night of July 20, 2026, due to unsafe conditions for ramp workers caused by repeated lightning strikes. This ground stoppage caused arriving flights to remain on the tarmac because departure gates were blocked. Some passengers waited on board aircraft
for over seven hours. The resulting congestion created a cascading backlog that disrupted hundreds of travelers throughout the New York metropolitan area, with flight delays, gate holds, and cancellations spreading through airspace over the Northeast and Midwest.
Major airlines operating at Newark Liberty International Airport—including United Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines—have issued travel waivers permitting customers to rebook flights without change fees. Passengers affected by cancellations have the right under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations to receive full cash refunds if they opt not to travel. The FAA and these carriers are continually monitoring weather and air traffic conditions as
operations gradually return to normal.
