Report by Paula Antolini, March 21, 2020, 2:54PM EDT
BREAKING NEWS: all incoming and outgoing flights have been temporarily cancelled at JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Airport.
“All flights bound for New York-area airports were briefly halted Saturday after an employee at a local airport tested positive for coronavirus. An air traffic control employee at an air traffic control tower in Long Island tested positive Saturday for COVID-19, the coronavirus disease, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Flights bound for airports across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were briefly put on hold as federal officials worked to disinfect the control tower,” reports Business Insider.
The employee was identified as an air traffic controller trainee at a center in Ronkonkoma, New York, and was last at the facility on March 17. The affected areas are being cleaned and sanitized, as the FCC is working with local health officials.
Airports began slowly reopening after a 30 minute shutdown.
Airports affected were: Newark Liberty International Airport, Laguardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.
“Flights around the US have been delayed and canceled due to the FAA’s brief shutdowns of traffic control facilities after employees tested positive for coronavirus,” reports Business Insider.
“DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES AT ZNY, PLEASE STOP ALL DEPARTURES TO
AIRPORTS WITHIN ZNY. THIS INCLUDES KJFK, KEWR, KLGA, KTEB, KHPN,
KPHL, KMMU, KCDW, KMDT, KABE, KISP, KFRG AND SEVERAL SMALLER
AIRPORTS,” the FAA said in a statement posted approximately 1:45 p.m. The directive also affects Philadelphia International Airport.
Developing story….
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