Metro-area airport experiencing delays due to equipment problems, FAA says

The three major New York City-area airports and smaller local airports, including Long Island MacArthur, are experiencing lengthy delays due to equipment problems, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to the FAA's Twitter account, flight delays are affecting Long Island MacArthur in Ronkonkoma, LaGuardia, Kennedy, Newark Liberty International, Teterboro and Westchester County airports.

"Flights at the New York metro airports are delayed tonight due to an external communications problem that is affecting area air traffic control facilities," the FAA said in a statement posted on its website Saturday night about 9:30 p.m. "FAA technicians are working to restore the system as quickly as possible."

An FAA website that details the status of flight delays across the country shows delays of several hours at airports in the New York City metropolitan area due to equipment trouble. Arriving flights at Kennedy and Newark face delays of up to 2 hours and 44 minutes in some cases, according to the website. Departure delays at all three major New York City-area airports are between 1 1/2 and 2 hours, the website shows.

Due to an equipment issue, departing traffic destined for New York TRACON airports are facing delays, according to www.fly.faa.gov. New York TRACON, or New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, is based in Westbury and serves the above airports.