Outbound flights from JFK International Airport experienced a delay of up 90 minutes on Wednesday morning after a group of turtles wandered onto the runway.

Seventy-eight diamondback terrapin turtles, each weighing 2-3 pounds, were removed, said a spokesman for airport operator The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Reuters reported.

They came up out of the water, the spokesman said. It happens, but it doesn't happen a lot.

The turtles were removed and were taken to a wild location away from the airport.