Power outage at Austin airport leads to flight delays
Travelers line up at a TSA screening area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. An early morning power outage at the airport caused flight delays 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. (Austin-Bergstrom International Airport via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS]
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.
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.
In this still image taken from video provided by Texas DOT, Traffic is backed up heading to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 in Austin, Texas. An early morning power outage at the airport caused flight delays 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.(Texas DOT via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Traffic is backed up on Texas 71 East near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a power outage at the airport on Wednesday Sept. 7, 2022. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airplanes are parked on the tarmac during a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say the early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Madison Monsour, left to right, Kaitlyn Kern, Bethanie Deveau and Blyth Mudgett wait for a ride at the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during a power outage at the airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. They were stranded at the South Terminal when their rideshare driver dropped them off in hopes they could get an airport shuttle to the main terminal to catch their American Airlines flight home to Raleigh, N.C. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say an early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airplanes wait on the tarmac during a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say the early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airplanes wait on the tarmac during a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say the early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airplanes wait on the tarmac during a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say the early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airplanes wait on the tarmac during a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Airport officials in Austin, Texas, say the early morning power outage is causing flight delays even as electricity has been restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Bill Wagner, of Allentown, Pa., waits in the concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a power outage at the airport caused his flight home to be cancelled on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Austin, Texas. An early morning power outage Wednesday at the airport caused flight delays that continued even after electricity was restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Achini Coorey, of Leander, waits in the concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a power outage at the airport caused her flight to Sri Lanka to be cancelled on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Austin, Texas. An early morning power outage Wednesday at the airport caused flight delays that continued even after electricity was restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Travelers line up at the ticketing counters after a power outage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Austin, Texas. An early morning power outage at the airport caused flight delays that continued even after electricity was restored. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Achini Coorey, of Leander, waits in the concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a power outage at the airport caused her flight to Sri Lanka to be cancelled on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jay Janner
Airport officials recommended that travelers check with their airlines for any changes in their flight status.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.