Hot And Bothered Turtles Delay Flights At JFK
By PIERRE BONNY wpix.com

11:50 a.m. EDT, July 9, 2009
JAMAICA, N.Y. (WPIX)—
Nearly 80 hot and bothered turtles crawled on to the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport Wednesday, causing quite the scene - and delays of over an hour at the congested airport, authorities said.

Port Authority workers rushed to the runway about 8:30 a.m. and scooped up 78 diamondback terrapins that had left the waters of Jamaica Bay scouting a spot to breed, said Port Authority spokesman John Kelly. This apparently is mating season for the species.

Passengers from various airlines were alerted by pilots who had to wait for 90 minutes to take off so the turtles could land in a safe place.