Yesterday afternoon, one plucky traveler named Suri (who asked that her last name be withheld) set off for JFK, hoping to get up in the air despite the blizzard. Her airline, Emirates, had assured her that her 4 p.m. flight to Dubai—initially scheduled for Sunday night—would be able to take off, but things didn't exactly work out as she'd hoped. The departure time was repeatedly bumped back, with boarding finally happening around 11 p.m. Aaaand seven hours later, she was returned to the terminal with the other hopefuls, where she's been stranded since. The AirTrain hasn't been running, and it's tough sledding finding a cab, particularly since her winter coat is still in her checked luggage, which is still on the plane. Suri describes the desperate, frustrating scene:
Epic Flight Delay at JFK: Day 2 at Terminal 4
After Military Escort, Emirates Flight Lands At JFK
Hours after the suspicious packages-on-UPS planes and trucks concerns, 1010 WINS says U.S. military jets are escorting an Emirates passenger flight, originating from Yemen, to JFK "out of an abundance of caution." Update: We hear the plane has landed and is being escorted by the Port Authority and NYPD to either a gate or another part of the airport.
Emirates Airlines Flight Asked To Return To JFK Gate
An Emirates Airlines flight which was on a JFK Airport taxiway was asked to return to a gate. NBC New York says, "Senior government officials confirm that authorities are responding to security incident at John F. Kennedy Airport. The nature of the incident is not yet known, but sources tell NBC that an Emirates flight ready to take off to Dubai was asked to return to the gate this afternoon." On Monday, bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad was apprehended on an Emirates JFK-Dubai flight; even though he was on the no-fly list, he managed to get on (the U.S. government and Emirates differ on what happened).
US Now Requires Airlines To Check No-Fly Lists More Quickly
There's nothing like almost losing track of a terror suspect and the no-fly list almost not work at all to make the feds change things up. The Washington Post reports, "Until now, airlines have had 24 hours to check the list after they are notified that a name has been added to it through a special, expedited process that indicates a high level of potential risk. Starting Wednesday, they must check within two hours."
Terror Suspect Shazad On No-Fly List But Got On Plane
As the authorities continue to understand the plans behind the attempted car bombing in Times Square, there's relief that suspect Faisal Shahzad was arrested just before his flight to Dubai took off but there's concern about how he nearly got away. Not only did Emirates Airline ignore an update that Shahzad, a Pakistani national who became a U.S. citizen last year, was added to the no-fly list, the feds lost track of him for a number of hours on Monday during their surveillance.
New Superjet Flies Twice as Many Rich People into JFK
The world's largest passenger airliner touched down at JFK yesterday. The NY Daily News has a thorough description of the "superjumbo jet" that includes amenities such as an on-board lounge with a massage system, bathrooms where passengers can shower, and an entertainment system with more than 1,200 channels to choose from. The Emirates Airbus A380 completed its 13 1/2 hour flight from Dubai in such comfort that passengers "felt like they had just emerged from a heavenly limousine ride. " The A380 burns 20% less fuel and costs 17% less to fly than the standard 747-400.
send a tip
tips@gothamist.comsubscribe
Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.