United travelers report being confined to the Newark tarmac for seven hours because of a severe weather delay.

Storm Grounds United Flight at Newark

Severe thunderstorms sweeping up the East Coast on Monday night triggered widespread disruptions, forcing a United Airlines flight bound for Detroit to sit on the Newark Liberty International Airport tarmac for roughly seven hours before the trip was ultimately canceled.

Seven Hours With Minimal Supplies

Passenger Flavia Deluczas told WXYZ‑TV that the cabin crew had only a small reserve of snacks and beverages. “I was glad I ate beforehand,” she said, adding that water supplies were dwindling by the time the aircraft returned to the gate.

Ripple Effect Across the Region

By Tuesday, FlightAware was reporting 159 outright cancellations at Newark and dozens more delays or cancellations at neighboring airports as weather‑related ground stops cascaded through airline schedules.

Airline Explains the Ground Stop

In a statement to Fox Business, United said air‑traffic controllers imposed the ground stop “to manage volume and limit congestion” during the storm. The carrier added a weather‑waiver policy to let customers rebook freely and directed travelers to its mobile app for real‑time updates.

Frustration Over Gate Departure

Deluczas questioned why the plane left the gate at all when radar clearly indicated storms were approaching. “If it looks like you probably can’t take off, maybe staying at the gate is the better option,” she remarked.

Newark’s Ongoing Image Problem

Newark Liberty scored the lowest of 34 U.S. airports in the latest AirHelp Score (7.25 out of 10). Despite handling a record 48.9 million passengers in 2024, the hub’s reputation for delays and customer‑service headaches remains a sore point for many travelers.