A seagull flies before the lower Manhattan skyline during heavy smog in New York on June 6, 2023.
Ed Jones | AFP | Getty Images
The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday halted flights bound for New York’s LaGuardia Airport as smoke from Canada’s wildfires cut visibility in the area.
“The FAA has taken steps to manage the flow of traffic into the New York City area due to reduced visibility from wildfire smoke,” the agency said in a statement. “Flights bound for LaGuardia International Airport have been paused. Flights to Newark Liberty International Airport have been slowed.”
Smoke drifting South from wildfires in Canada blanketed New York City on Tuesday into Wednesday, tainting the area’s air quality and sending residents indoors. As of noon Wednesday, the city ranked fourth in the world for worst air quality, with an IQAir World Air Quality Index of 158, a level considered unhealthy for all residents.
The initial ground stop at LaGuardia was put in place until at least 2 p.m. ET.
As of about 1:40 p.m. ET, more than 1,400 U.S. flights were delayed, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.
— CNBC’s Emma Newburger contributed to this report.
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