JFK airport: Burst pipes and extreme snow cause flight chaos in New York for fifth day running

Passengers continue to be delayed at New York’s primary airport

Travel from New York’s JFK airport has been disrupted for the fifth day running, after a burst water pipe compounded the issues caused by extreme weather in the city.

At around 5.30pm (GMT) on 7 January, the airport tweeted: “Due to a water main break at JFK Terminal 4 there are flight delays. Please check with your airline prior to coming to the airport.”

The burst pipe flooded the arrivals area of Terminal 4, which serves 30 international airlines, with three inches of water. It also spilled onto the road outside and froze over.

The incident shut down arrivals and Customs and Border Patrols for more than four hours; electricity to the entire terminal was switched off to prevent short circuiting the building.

This led to more flights being delayed and increasing numbers of passengers being stuck at the airport.

“We will thoroughly investigate why this pipe burst and thoroughly investigate why it was not adequately protected and thoroughly investigate the contingency plan for this event,” Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which manages the airport, said at a press conference.

He called the closing of the arrivals area for several hours “totally unacceptable”, saying: “It is not what the Port Authority expects in terms of providing service to its passengers, and it is totally not what the Port Authority expects from its private operators.”

The problem has been now been fixed. However, the airport is still issuing regular alerts saying: “There may be delays at JFK. Please allow extra time and contact your airline.”

Heavy snow, ice and harsh winds in the area led to all flights being suspended at various points on 4 and 5 January, with many passengers stranded in the city for several days.

As of Sunday night, more than 500 flights had been cancelled or delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

Many UK travellers due to fly home with Norwegian were affected by the storms. Brigida Downing, whose son was scheduled to fly from JFK on 4 January, told The Independent that the experience has been “a nightmare”. After her son’s flight was cancelled, Norwegian transported him and his fellow passenger to a hotel, telling them they would fly the next day instead. However, when this flight was also cancelled, passengers were told the airline was not prepared to pay for another night in the hotel, nor transportation back.

“My son and others had to pay for a taxi back to the hotel where they were told that if they wished, they could have a refund for their flight and could try to get on another flight,” she said. ”My son checked and the cheapest flight back, if indeed one was going, was £2,000 plus pounds.”

Snow and heavy winds have caused disruption at JFK over the last week (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Jan Coates told The Independent that some of her family are still stuck in New York after they enjoyed a group trip there over the New Year. She said: “My husband and I flew out after a delay of six hours on a Virgin flight to Heathrow. Two of our sons flew out two hours later, also after a delay (and a couple of hours on the tarmac!) on BA.

“Our remaining two sons, daughter-in-law and new fiancée have just got off an aircraft after two hours waiting and are going to a hotel for a THIRD night.”

Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder advised those stuck in New York during the storm: “Airlines have a clear and unlimited obligation to provide a hotel room and all meals, as well as transport to and from the airport, until they can get you home. That’s the law.”

Although the situation has improved, the weather and backlog of cancelled flights is still causing havoc today at JFK, with 27 of the 40 scheduled departing flights between 12am and 5.59am delayed.

Meanwhile 38 of the scheduled departing flight between 6am and 11.59am are currently delayed, and a further nine have been cancelled.