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Amorous Turtles Close JFK Runway

Several flights delayed as terrapins perform mating rituals on active runways.

Flights departing out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) last week left behind schedule due to an outbreak of turtles mating on an active runway. Multiple news outlets report aircraft were halted so that the turtles could be collected and returned to nearby Jamaica Bay.

The 40 reptiles, identified as diamondback terrapins, encroached the runway around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed delays were attributed to the turtles climbing out of the water and into the airport property.

“There were planes briefly stuck in queue,” Cheryl Albiez of the Port Authority told New York Daily News. “It is turtle season here, but it was a little unusual to get the turtles at this time.”

However, once identified as the source of delays, the turtles were rounded up by airport wildlife specialists and returned to the bay. Experts say the terrapins prefer to lay their eggs in the sandy areas surrounding JFK, especially near Runway 4L. Researchers have previously studied the intrusion patterns, in order to determine why the turtles prefer coming to the runway.

Many flyers took to Twitter to express their entertainment with the turtle delay. In many tweets, flyers were amused that their travels were slowed by something even slower.

However, some flyers were not as patient. Because some flights were already in taxi, a number of flyers were held on flights waiting for the terrapins to be cleared.

The turtle parade was part of a migration and mating pattern, which usually takes place during the summer. According to the Daily Mail, the turtles also caused flight issues in 2015, when over 500 came onto the runways throughout the summer months.

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pdsales July 11, 2017

"Dammit, Mabel, I told you us turtles can't play leapfrog. Now the whole airport is staring at us. Oh, crap, now United has called security to drag us off like Dr. Dao. My first wife as a tortoise and I never had to put up with this nonsense with her."