A plane emergency at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York caused big delays on July 18, 2025. The FAA ordered a full ground stop, which means no planes could take off. This started around 1:37 PM. Flights didn’t start again until about 3:30 PM.
The issue began when a plane was disabled on one of the runways. The FAA said it was an “inbound aircraft emergency.” They didn’t say what kind of plane it was or if anyone got hurt. JFK Airport emergency also hasn’t shared details.
This sudden stop affected lots of flights. JFK International Airport consistently ranks among the top five busiest airports in North America by passenger volume. Terminal 8 alone serves over 12 million people every year. Although the ground stop was lifted, flight delays still continued across the board. A spokesperson told Bloomberg that people could still expect long wait times.
A user on X (formerly Twitter) posted that “all aircraft were temporarily grounded at JFK due to an emergency.” The post added that things were now getting better, but delays would remain.
This wasn’t the only problem JFK faced recently. On July 14, Virgin Atlantic passengers found their bags covered in a weird, brown, smelly liquid—possibly from a plane toilet.
Other safety problems have happened, too. On April 17, a dog on the runway made planes change course. On June 12, a JetBlue flight slid off the runway in Boston. These events show that busy airports still deal with risks.
The FAA is expected to investigate the latest JFK Airport emergency. Their findings may help improve airport safety.
JFK is building a new Terminal 6, planned to open in 2026. The mission is clear: improve efficiency, serve more passengers, and eliminate unnecessary delays. But for now, travelers should check their flight updates and avoid going to the airport unless necessary.