FAA Lifts Temporary Flight Ban To NYC, Philadelphia Over Coronavirus
On Saturday (Mar 21), the FAA briefly announced a flight ban on all trips to NYC, Philadelphia and surrounding areas after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shared that a regional air traffic controller trainee, who worked out of the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, was infected. Immediately after learning, they grounded flights.
RELATED: New York Gov’s Office Deems Liquor Stores ‘Essential’ Amid Coronavirus
Before lifting the ban in less than an hour, the FAA originally stated the ban could last for several hours. They shared, “The trainee has not been at the facility since March 17. We have contacted local health authorities and we are developing a plan to quickly sanitize/clean the affected areas. The center remains open and operational. Each facility across the country has a contingency plan that has been recently updated and tested. The safety of our staff and the traveling public is the FAA’s top priority.”
Furthermore, COVID-19 cases in New York exceed 10,000 with more than 50 deaths. While Pennsylvania reports more than 370 cases as of Saturday (Mar 21).
RELATED: New York Mayor Bill De Blasio Says A Citywide Quarantine Is A ‘Possibility’