Seeing Rikers Island from a plane
New York City's main jail complex, on an island in the East River beside LaGuardia, which the city has committed to close. Look for the island of low jail buildings right off the runway ends.
2 of our routes pass it. New York · rated 3 of 10
The easy pick
New York to Dallas-Fort Worth: sit on the left, on the climb, 0 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| New York to Dallas-Fort Worth | Left | on the climb, 0 min after takeoff |
| New York to Chicago | Left | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Rikers Island from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (2 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Rikers Island from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Rikers Island at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
LaGuardia Airport Bronx–Whitestone Bridge Citi Field Yankee Stadium Central Park New York (LGA) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Chicago (ORD) All routes