Kenya Airways has cancelled its scheduled flight from New
York to Nairobi after severe weather disrupted operations at John F. Kennedy
International Airport (JFK), leaving passengers stranded as authorities
grappled with widespread flooding and transport disruptions across the city.
In a statement, the national carrier said Flight KQ003, which had been scheduled to depart from JFK for Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), was cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions affecting airport operations.
"Due to severe weather conditions being experienced in New York, airport operations were significantly disrupted," the airline said.
"For the safety and comfort of our crew and passengers, KQ003, scheduled to depart on Saturday, 18 July 2026, from New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport) to Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport), was cancelled."
Kenya Airways said the aircraft would depart once weather conditions improve, all safety and regulatory requirements are met, and the necessary air traffic clearance is granted.
"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused
and thank our guests for their patience and understanding. We will continue to
keep our affected guests updated with the latest information," the airline
said.
The carrier reiterated that the safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft remains its highest priority.
The cancellation comes as New York experiences a bout of severe weather after powerful thunderstorms swept across the city and surrounding areas, bringing torrential rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds.
The storms dumped more than two inches of rain in some neighbourhoods within just a few hours, overwhelming drainage systems and prompting life-threatening flash flood warnings for parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.
Floodwaters inundated roads, subway stations and
underpasses, bringing sections of the city's transport network to a standstill.
Several streets in lower Manhattan, including parts of Soho, were submerged, with images and videos showing stranded vehicles and pedestrians wading through knee-deep water.
Authorities urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and warned motorists against driving through flooded roads as emergency crews responded to multiple weather-related incidents.
The severe weather also caused significant disruption to air travel, with flights at JFK and other major airports delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility and hazardous conditions.
Beyond aviation, the storms forced the postponement of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Emergency management officials had issued weather alerts ahead of the storms, warning residents of the risk of flash flooding, strong winds and severe thunderstorms.
Although conditions have begun to improve, forecasters say New York is expected to experience drier and less humid weather over the coming days. However, they have cautioned that another round of showers and thunderstorms could develop later in the week.
Passengers booked on the affected Kenya Airways flight have
been advised to monitor updates from the airline regarding revised departure
arrangements and travel schedules as operations gradually return to normal.
