Fire At FAA Facility In Chicago Delays, Cancels Several Local Flights
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — A fire at an FAA radar facility in suburban Chicago Friday forced the cancellation or delay of several LA area flights.
The fire grounded all immediate inbound and outbound flights at O'Hare and Midway international airports.
Aviation officials have canceled several westbound flights from O'Hare and Midway to Southland airports, including LAX, Ontario, Burbank and John Wayne in Orange County.
Several other airlines, including United, Southwest and American, have canceled or delayed flights to Chicago.
It was the second time since May that a fire at one of the Chicago area's major control facilities prompted a ground stop at O'Hare and Midway international airports.
Friday's fire, reportedly set by a contact employee at the facility, led to the evacuation of the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center in Aurora, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said.
Authorities found a man in the facility's basement suffering from apparent self-inflicted burn and knife wounds, officials said.
As of 9 a.m. nearly 500 flights to and from O'Hare and Midway airports had been canceled.
For up-to-date flight information at all airports, click here. For information on LAX flights, click here.
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