Publication Date:
Fri, 2011-07-01 02:14
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. Flights were rerouted to another runway, as waves of turtles pressed on with their march to the bay.
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