Tri-state airports face extensive delays and ground stops due to severe weather
Ground stops were issued at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports Thursday due to a storm system, compounding earlier delays caused by an aircraft emergency.
October 30, 2025 - 03:36 PM ET • 2 min read
Tri-state area airports faced significant operational disruptions and extensive delays on Thursday, October 30, as a storm system moved through the region, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue ground stops at major hubs.
The ground stops affected LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). FAA officials indicated that the stops were expected to remain in effect until at least 2:45 p.m. EDT.
The widespread delays were attributed to a storm system bringing soaking rain and gusty winds to the region, according to meteorologists. The severe weather conditions led to substantial wait times for travelers throughout the afternoon. Departure delays were reported up to two and a half hours at Newark, an hour and a half at LaGuardia, and up to 45 minutes at JFK. Separately, ground delays for flights arriving at JFK were averaging over four hours due to the strong winds, officials noted.
Earlier Aircraft Emergency at JFK
The weather-related disruptions compounded earlier operational issues at JFK, which had experienced a temporary ground stop due to an aircraft emergency earlier in the day.
Departures to JFK were temporarily grounded starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT after the captain of Frontier Airlines Flight 3546 declared an emergency as a precautionary measure. The flight, originating from San Juan, Puerto Rico, experienced a mechanical issue during its approach to the airport, according to a Frontier spokesperson.
The ground stop related to the emergency was canceled at 1:45 p.m. EDT. The Port Authority of New York-New Jersey confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at JFK. Although the plane was briefly stopped on the runway, it was cleared without incident. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. Following its arrival, the aircraft was taken to the gate for evaluation by maintenance personnel, the spokesperson added.
The combination of the temporary emergency stop and the subsequent widespread weather system contributed to the extensive delays experienced across the tri-state area's major transportation hubs throughout Thursday afternoon.