A fire apparently started in a bathroom in an Aurora Illinois flight control tower, which handles the traffic for both the O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago. The cause of the fire is unknown as well as what, if any damage, was caused by smoke or fire supression systems in the rest of the building. The staff of the tower has been evacuated and fire officials are investigation the incident. In the meantime, several flights were diverted and all flights into both airports have been delayed until at least 10:00am central time. Southwest has officially delayed all of its flight through Chicago until 12:00 noon CST. Even if flights to start again into the airports at that hour, the stack of delayed planes will be immense and most likely take the rest of the day into early evening to sort out. So, even if you aren’t scheduled to fly out to O’Hare or Midway until this evening, keep an eye on your flight time as delays may last well into the night.
Am interesting detail in the story is a man, said to be an employee of the FAA Aurora Tower Facility, has been found in the basement of the facility suffering from self-inflicted wounds. It is not known if perhaps this person started the fire.
Leave A Comment