Additional Coverage:
JFK Ground Stop Follows Frontier Emergency Landing Amidst Widespread East Coast Delays
John F. Kennedy Airport experienced a ground stop on Thursday after a Frontier Airlines flight reported an engine issue and landed safely. The incident, involving Frontier Airlines Flight 3546 from Puerto Rico, prompted a temporary halt to all inbound aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Frontier Airlines Flight 3546, an Airbus A320, landed safely at approximately 12:45 p.m. local time after its crew reported an engine problem. The FAA will be investigating the incident.
While the ground stop was expected to conclude by 1:45 p.m., flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft signaled a “code 7700,” a general emergency call used for various urgent situations, including mechanical trouble. Despite the emergency, the New York-New Jersey Port Authority confirmed the plane landed without incident, briefly stopping on the runway before being cleared. No injuries were reported.
However, the emergency landing contributed to significant delays at JFK, with average ground delays exceeding three hours.
Beyond JFK, several other major East Coast airports, including Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Reagan National Airport (DCA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), also faced substantial delays throughout Thursday. The FAA’s Command Center attributed these widespread disruptions primarily to severe weather conditions in the Northeast, which are anticipated to persist into the afternoon. Forecasters predict one to three inches of gradual rainfall, making flash flooding unlikely.
Earlier in the day, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) imposed temporary restrictions on general aviation due to thunderstorms and air traffic management issues, with restrictions in place until 8 p.m.
This latest incident follows a temporary halt of flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday, which the FAA attributed to a staffing shortage amidst an ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown, nearing its full month, stems from disagreements over healthcare subsidies and has reportedly led to tens of thousands of delayed flights nationwide due to staffing issues. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office publicly criticized Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy following the LAX incident, linking it to the broader government funding impasse.