New York cancels 9,000 flights as Hurricane Irene hits

Airport chaos as thousands of flights are cancelled

The City of New York has closed all its airports and cancelled as many as 9,000 flights because of Hurricane Irene, that hit the U.S. east coast Sunday with winds reaching 185 k/hr.

The cancellations have affected flights originating all over the world, including Trinidad and Tobago. The national airline, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has had to cancel all its flights into New York until the danger passes.

Read the story: Hurricane threat forces CAL, Air Jamaica to cancel flights

The city's subway system and other public transit have also been shut down. And officials have advised people to just stay home and stay indoors.

Irene has been blamed for nine deaths in the United States, including two children.