The flight departed Medellín at 15:08, bound for JFK. The flight first entered U.S. airspace of Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center at 17:28, flying at , and proceeded northward, climbing to . The flight was cleared to fly Atlantic route 7 to the DIXON navigational aid and jet airway 174 to Norfolk, Virginia. Flight 52 entered its first holding pattern over Norfolk at 19:04 and remained circling until 19:23. From there, Flight 52 continued on to the BOTON intersection near Atlantic City, New Jersey, where it was placed in a second holding pattern from 19:43 to 20:12. The flight proceeded to the CAMRN intersection where it entered its third holding pattern from 20:18 to 20:47. Flight 52 entered the CAMRN holding pattern at , having been cleared to descend prior to arrival at the intersection, and the flight descended further to while in the CAMRN holding pattern. At 20:44:09, while still holding at CAMRN, the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZNY) advised Flight 52 that there was an "indefinite hold" and to continue holding at CAMRN. At 20:44:43, the ZNY controller told the flight to "expect further clearance" at 21:05. The flight had previously been given two delay estimates that had passed.