**Ground & Air Stop in NYC Region-all departures stopped -- for JFK, LGA, EWR (Updated)

[Dennis Donovan]

Last edited Sat Mar 21, 2020, 03:04 PM - Edit history (1)

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/air-stop-in-nyc-region-staffing-issues

By Josh Marshall

March 21, 2020 2:15 p.m.

Based on this tweet from an airline industry journalist and this FAA alert, it appears that air traffic into the major airports servicing the NYC region has been halted. We are dealing with limited information here. But this does not appear to be an effort to restrict travel. It appears that “staffing issues” (quote from FAA alert), possibly positive tests, have brought staff levels below a point where the airports can operate.

This is an emerging story. We will update as new details emerge. I stress again: this does not appear to be a policy decision to restrict travel. It appears to be a reaction to staffing shortfalls below which the airports cannot operate.

Link to tweet

Jon Ostrower ✔@jonostrower

BREAKING: Ground stop now in effect — all departures stopped — for JFK, LGA, EWR due to positive covid-19 tests. Other regional airspace sectors halted through key “gates” through NY air traffic areas. -Sources

1:48 PM - Mar 21, 2020

Update:

Link to tweet

Seth Miller @WandrMe

The earlier Ground Stop at ZNY lifted and was replaced with smaller stops only at HPN and JFK that I can see right now. Still limited inbound flights, mostly from the east coast, but not as bad as it was.



2:42 PM - Mar 21, 2020

More:

Link to tweet

[Mike 03]

1. This affects a lot of airspace

Link to tweet

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Effectively a ground stop and air stop (or diversion) for inbounds

Staffing issues. Wow.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. More - ATC Ctr had to be evacuated due to someone testing positive for COVID-19

Link to tweet

We're going to see more of this.

[Mike 03]

2. "This is no bueno"

Link to tweet

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Holy shit

"Staffing trigger" - meaning they're below the number needed to operate the airspace safely.

This is incredible!!

[customerserviceguy]

6. Over the last couple of weeks

I've responded to people who questioned the buying of large quantities of bottled water, who were pooh-poohing the idea that water supplies will be unaffected by this plague. It takes people to run anything that is not purely a force of nature.

Air traffic control today, your local utilities next?

[Dennis Donovan]

7. I fear the potential for anarchy if services are interrupted

I worry more about services like power, internet, air traffic control going down due to large groups employees all getting sick at once, than I do about actually catching CV.

[customerserviceguy]

9. And that's why

gun and ammo sales are up.

[radius777]

12. Agree, our leaders seem to underestimate this.

Once society starts to break down, anarchy (looting, violence, etc) is the typical result.

[uponit7771]

8. K&R, When will these "staffing" issues hit the power plants? Cause ANYONE who's worked critical

... path operations knows damn well the FPC's don't have staffing redundancy

[gldstwmn]

13. Power is one thing but water is another.

People flushing napkins and paper towels will cause all kinds of issues.

[Duppers]

10. "The hault was lifted after about 30 minutes."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/03/21/coronavirus-faa-temporary-ground-stop-jfk-laguardia-newark-philadelphia/2891750001/

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. Flightaware.com's "Misery Map"

https://flightaware.com/miserymap/