What happens with my flight? Delays, diversions and plane arrivals after the New York earthquake
The 4.8-magnitude quake struck New York City on Friday morning, sparking concern for airplanes in the area.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 has hit New York City. The quake was felt at around 10:20am on Friday morning with residents reporting shaking from Manhattan to New Jersey.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that the earthquake had struck the West of Manhattan, adding: “My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.”
Mayor Adams along with other officials gave a speech just after noon about the earthquake. He said New York residents should go about their normal day.
Magnitude 5.5 struck struck New York and New Jersey. It was felt in UN Security Council, where cameras shook. Save the Children CEO Janti Soeripto, who was addressing the UNSC on Gaza, stopped speaking. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour quipped: “You’re making the ground shake.” pic.twitter.com/CtbyB1h83T
— Michelle Nichols (@michellenichols) April 5, 2024
Initial investigations suggest that there has been no major damage as a result of the earthquake, but the incident will cause concern for those in the area. Among that number are airplane passengers who had planned to land on the East coast around the time of the tremor. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary halt on all flights Newark and John F. Kennedy International Airports in response to the earthquake.
Friends and family members of those on airplanes will be eager to know if their flight will be diverted. Here’s everything you need to know...
How to track a diverted flight
Airlines will endeavour to keep the public updated with any changes to their flight schedules at all times. However in the aftermath of an incident like the New York earthquake the operators may struggle to spread the information promptly.
The quickest way to get an update on any diverted flights is to use an airplane tracking site, such as FlightAware.
Anyone can track a flight online, providing you know either the flight number or the origin and destination of the journey. The information is provided in a real-time flight traffic map, showing where each plane is.
Airline operators should start making the information available promptly, with updates expected on social media and on each company’s website. However for anyone eager to know exactly where the flight in question is, tracking sites will provide the most up-to-date information.
The earthquake in New York City is not expected to cause major disruption but some precautions will be taken in the immediate aftermath. The quake was a 4.8-magnitude and was felt from NYC to Quebec and Toronto to the North.
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