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The past few days have been a disaster for flights to and from New York’s JFK airport due to the bomb cyclone. But on Sunday afternoon, the situation reached a new low as a water main broke in JFK’s Terminal 4, flooding the baggage claim and arrivals area of the terminal.
Video from inside the terminal shows water pouring down from ceilings and pooling on the floors:
BREAKING: video from inside of JFK airport shows the terminal flooded with water pic.twitter.com/nqRHguCrE5
An ABC reporter was able to get into the depths of the terminal to show the flooding occurring there:
Water main break adds insult to injury at weather-plagued #JFK airport. Cascades of water flooded customs hall in Terminal 4. Customs closed, planeloads of people stuck on flights that already landed. Other flights diverted elsewhere. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/I5CUDEBPZ4
The airport took to Twitter at 3:24pm Eastern to announce a shutdown of inbound international flights:
A water main break at Terminal 4 at JFK Airport has led to a shutdown of international flights into the terminal. Passengers are urged to contact their airlines for specific flight information.
International arrivals were halted for hours, but resumed by 7:47pm Eastern:
.@JFKairport Terminal 4 update:
- International arrivals has reopened and is resuming operations. Residual delays expected.
- Passengers advised to contact their airline for flight status for both departures and arrivals. https://t.co/kZDrY32kJj
With an airport as large as JFK, one might assume that flights could be rearranged across its other terminals to handle operations normally. However, as painfully highlighted the past few days during the weather situation at JFK, each terminal acts as its own “fiefdom” with little sharing between terminals.
While international arrivals have now resumed, the effects of the flooding and catch-up flights will likely mean delays and issues in the terminal for at least the next few days. Terminal 4 handles Delta’s international and transcontinental flights, as well as the following airlines:
- AeroMexico
- Air Europa
- Air India
- Air Jamaica
- Air Serbia
- Asiana
- Avianca
- China Airlines
- China Southern
- Copa Airlines
- Egyptair
- El Al
- Emirates
- Etihad
- KLM
- Kuwait Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Sun Country
- SWISS
- Thomas Cook Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Volaris
- WestJet
- Xiamen Airlines
- XL Airways
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — which operates JFK — called the situation “unacceptable” and says that “travelers expect and deserve better.” And, while the water main breaking is likely due to the freezing weather, the Port Authority is launching an investigation into why it happened:
If you’re flying in or out of JFK in the next few days, especially at Terminal 4, definitely leave yourself some extra time and plan on bringing plenty of patience.
Source: thepointsguy.com