FAA halts flights to New York's LaGuardia amid Canada wildfire smoke
A seagull flies before the lower Manhattan skyline during heavy smog in New York on June 6, 2023.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday halted flights bound for New York's LaGuardia Airport as wildfire smoke from Canada cut visibility in the area.
"The FAA has taken steps to manage the flow of traffic into the New York City area due to reduced visibility from wildfire smoke," the agency said in a statement. "Flights bound for LaGuardia International Airport have been paused. Flights to Newark Liberty International Airport have been slowed."
Newark flights were delayed about an hour and a half, the FAA said.
Smoke drifting South from wildfires in Canada blanketed the New York City area on Tuesday into Wednesday, tainting air quality and sending residents indoors. As of noon Wednesday, the city ranked fourth in the world for worst air quality, with an IQAir World Air Quality Index of 158, a level considered unhealthy for all residents.
The initial ground stop at LaGuardia was put in place until at least 2 p.m. ET.
As of about 1:40 p.m. ET, more than 1,400 U.S. flights were delayed, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.
United Airlines said in a statement it was "monitoring the situation closely and looking out for the safety of our employees who work outside, and adjusting our schedule where needed."
A spokesman for Delta Air Lines told CNBC that the carrier has protective equipment for staff.
"And for those who work on the tarmac, we're having them come inside to where breakrooms are in between aircraft turns," the spokesman said. "We are also watching the forecasts which call for rain in NYC in the days ahead which should improve the air quality."
— CNBC's Emma Newburger contributed to this report.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
Source: CNBC
