Chicago flights grounded for second time in two weeks

CHICAGO - The Federal Aviation Administration is reporting arrivals and departures at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway international airports are being delayed because of equipment problems.

The FAA hasn't provided details of the problem, but is reporting arrivals and departures are being delayed by up to 30 minutes.

"The FAA briefly delayed departures this afternoon for flights headed to O'Hare or Midway from Canada and Midwestern airports because of problems with several phone lines between the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Elgin, IL and the FAA's adjoining en route centers," the agency said in a statement released Monday.

Chicago's airports are already taxed due to a fire at the FAA Aurora facility on Friday, September 26 that caused more than 2,000 canceled flights. Brian Howard, 36, is charged with arson and sabotage. The Aurora facility handles high-altitude communications, so that traffic was transferred to other nearby facilities.

Operations have not yet fully resumed since then.

In a Sunday statement, FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford says the damaged equipment should be removed by Monday and replacement equipment continues to arrive for installation and testing.

FAA officials have said they hope to have the control center fully operational by next week.

Both O'Hare and Midway international airports are affected, according to the FAA website. Delays are also expected for flights that are taking off. Planes can be seen lining up on the tarmac at O'Hare.