Blackout disrupts air traffic at L.A.airport

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

LOS ANGELES -- A brief electrical outage apparently caused by a bird on a power line knocked out electricity to the Los Angeles International Airport control tower and disrupted air traffic Monday morning. Eighty to 100 flights had to hold in the air, circle or stay on the ground at other airports, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker said. Some departures from Los Angeles were also delayed briefly. All flights remained in contact with the FAA, including through a facility in San Diego County that directs planes until they are about five to eight miles from Los Angles International, Walker said. A 34.5-kilovolt supply line went out for 10 seconds at 9:38 a.m., city Department of Water and Power spokeswoman Carol Tucker said. The bird apparently managed to ground the line, which re-energized moments later, the department said in a statement.

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