Power outage at Austin airport leads to flight delays
Sep 7, 2022, 2:45 PM
FILE: Travelers check the flight information board as they make their way through Miami International Airport on Dec. 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — An early morning power outage Wednesday at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport caused flight delays and cancellations that continued even after electricity was restored.
The airport reported it lost power shortly before 5 a.m., and soon after said flights had been stopped. The lights were back on by 8 a.m., but airport officials told passengers that flights would be delayed.
The airport shut down roads leading to the airport, which led to traffic backups on a nearby freeway. Austin police asked people to stay in their vehicles until the roads reopened.
It takes A LOT of power to run the airport. The backup generators provide power to key functions to keep people safe while the experts at @austinenergy work to restore systemwide power to support passenger processing and flight activity.
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) (@AUStinAirport) September 7, 2022
Transportation Security Administration checkpoints were open shortly after 8 a.m., but flight delays continued.
Austin Energy said in a statement that the outage was caused by malfunctioning underground equipment that has since been repaired, and a crew is reviewing what happened in the hope of avoiding a repeat.
Airport officials recommended that travelers check with their airlines for any changes in their flight status.
