Flights heading for Newark airport have been grounded after 2 drones were spotted flying nearby

Benjamin Zhang

January 23, 2019 12:57 AM

John Moore/Getty

A ground stop has been issued for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday due to drone activity.
According to ABC News, the FAA confirmed that two drones were spotted in the path of planes landing at Newark Airport.
A ground stop for incoming flights has been issued. During a ground stop, flights headed for Newark are held at their point of departure.

A ground stop has been issued for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday due to drone activity.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman confirmed to ABC News that two drones were spotted around 3,500 feet above Teterboro, New Jersey which is directly in the path of planes headed for landing at Newark.

As a result, a ground stop has been issued for the EWR. During a ground stop, flights headed for Newark are held at their point of departure.

This is to prevent aircraft on final approach from colliding with the drones that can cause substantial damage to an airliner.

Representatives from neither the FAA nor from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the organization that operates the airport, were not immediately available for comment.

Newark Liberty International Airport is located roughly 10 miles west of New York City and is one of the main airports serving the Big Apple.

In recent months a series of drone sightings paralyzed the two largest airports in the UK. London Gatwick Airport was shut down for more than a day due to the drone activity December. Earlier this month, London Heathrow Airport was shut down for part of an afternoon due to the potential presence of a drone.

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