More JFK flights delayed as Port Authority launches investigation

Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Travelers faced more flights delays and diversions at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York Monday as freezing weather strained operations.

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey warned travelers there could be fresh delays on and JFK advised travelers to allow extra time.

JFK had 19 inbound and 39 outbound flights canceled or delayed Monday morning after a weekend of disruptions.

It began Friday with the region's first major storm of the season slamming New York with snow and subzero temperatures.

On Sunday, a water main break flooded a terminal. The Port Authority said the break "appears to be weather-related."

Some of the afternoon's slate of flights were canceled or delayed -- with some delays reaching more than five hours. At least eight flights were diverted to airports ranging from Montreal to Piarco on Trinidad and Tobago.

The Port Authority called the delays "unacceptable."

"We have launched an investigation into the incident to determine exactly what occurred and why an internal pipe was not weather-protected and whether any other failures contributed to this disruption," the Port Authority said.

"They should've been better prepared," New York Sen. Charles Schumer said. "It seemed like a disaster, whether it's the runways not being plowed, whether it's the baggage machines that transport the baggage freezing, whether it's not notifying people what's going on."