Airports In New Jersey

Turtles crossing runway cause flight delays

NEW YORK - Flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport were delayed shortly on Wednesday when about 150 diamondback terrapin turtles were spotted crossing a runway, authorities said.

The reptiles were trying to get to the other side of the runway to lay eggs on the sandy shores of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, which borders the airport.

Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees operation of the region's airports, pilots from Jet Blue and other airlines halted their flights to let the expectant reptiles pass.

"Flight delays attributed to turtles were minor, about 15 minutes or so," he said.

Port Authority staff rushed out to the tarmac where, between takeoffs and landings, they scooped up the turtles and helped them on their way.

Naturalists said the 185-acre Jamaica Bay may be the diamondback's most popular breeding ground in North America.

"It happens every year at about this time. It's the great migration, and this is the peak of the season," he said.

Flights were rerouted to another runway, as waves of turtles pressed on with their march to the bay.

"At one point, we decided to heed Mother Nature and use other runways. This is not impacting flights," Marsico said.

[WATCH]: Alex Jones & Heather Fazio: Austin Joins Rebellion ...

Paul Joseph Watson www.tagtexas.org www.infowars.com www.prisonplanet.tv December 16, 2010 Austin has joined the nationwide rebellion against naked body scanners by resisting plans on behalf of the TSA to install the devices at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport next year, while the TSA has still failed to respond to a FOIA request filed by former Congressman Bob Barr demanding information about whether the agency is keeping a list of “domestic extremists” who have opposed invasive airport security measures. “Austin’s Airport Advisory Commission approved a resolution on Tuesday night advising the city council to oppose airport body scanners and invasive body searches,” reports KXAN.com. “What we need to do is let them know it is not acceptable in Austin,” said Texans for Accountable Government’s Heather Fazio. We don’t have body scanners here. We don’t want body scanners here. We don’t need them here.” The TSA has signaled its intention to install the scanners at Austin, but the date has continually been put back, with the agency identifying next year or even as late as 2012 before the devices will be activated.

Airports in New Jersey, Mcguire Air Force Base, Newark Liberty International Airport, List of Airports in New Jersey, Teterboro Airport

Encyclopedia of New Jersey

America's airports, airfield development, 1918-1947

A future system of airports for New Jersey, Phase B Report on determination of New Jersey Airport Requirements

A geography of New Jersey, the city in the garden