12 Flights Canceled in Puerto Rico Due to Eastern US Weather; Cause Disputed

1,557 passengers were affected on Wednesday as 12 flights were canceled at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, due to adverse weather conditions on the US East Coast. The cancellations disrupted travel to and from several US cities and the Dominican Republic. Source: Infobae, eldiado, diariolibree

The cancellations

Aerostar Holdings, the airport operator, reported 12 cancellations, with JetBlue accounting for 10 and Frontier for 2. Some sources also mention delays beyond the cancelled flights. Affected destinations include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Bradley (Connecticut), Fort Lauderdale (Florida), and Santo Domingo. Arrivals came from Orlando, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston, and Westchester. Source: hoydo, eldiado

Disputed cause

Sources disagree on the reason. One report attributes the disruptions to Tropical Storm Bertha, which made landfall in Louisiana with winds up to 75 km/h and heavy rain. Source: hoydo, Infobae In contrast, other reports cite thick smoke from Canadian wildfires that has been drifting over the eastern US, causing air quality alerts affecting over 100 million people in 18 states. Source: eldiado, diariolibree Aerostar's official statement simply referred to "weather conditions affecting the US East Coast."

What's next

Aerostar urged passengers with upcoming flights to contact their airlines for updated status. The situation highlights how distant weather events—whether a storm or wildfire smoke—can disrupt air travel across the region.