FAA: Outage caused by cut power line during construction at Asheville Regional Airport

ASHEVILLE, N.C.

Many travelers nationwide that experienced flight delays on Thursday were likely affected by what happened at Asheville Regional Airport. The facility experienced a power outage at its Air Traffic Control Tower Thursday morning. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the preliminary belief is that construction caused a cut to a commercial power line. That left many in not-ideal situations — not just here in Asheville, but in other parts of the country as well.

Travelers’ Experiences

“We were in a holding pattern in Newark [NJ],” traveler Paul DiSciullo said. “When we got on the plane, we thought we would be leaving right away. For about a half an hour to 45 minutes, we were sitting there before we could take off. Captain was telling us that people couldn’t leave, come in. It seemed like there were two-three delays.”

Flyers like DiSciullo started their Thursday knowing their flights were being pushed back.

“I waited; it was delayed again,” Steven Chaney said. “I waited; they delayed it again. I think it was around seven times they delayed it.”

Impact on Airport Operations

What travelers later found out was that the power went out at Asheville’s Air Traffic Control Tower.

“To be a savvy traveler, you have to understand that there are a lot of things that can happen that’s outside of your control as a traveler,” airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey said. “When we were on the plane, that’s when we started finding out that there was a problem with the tower.”

The delays didn’t bother some people.

“Luckily I’ll just be eating and drinking while I’m here,” DiSciullo said. “There are no problems at all.”

For others, the situation caused headaches.

Resolution and Return to Normalcy

Flights were back on the runway before noon. The outage didn’t last throughout the entirety of the morning.

“Delays happen,” Kinsey said. “They happen for all different kinds of reasons. To be a savvy traveler, be ready for that, and be in contact with your airline.”

The FAA believes the impact of the delays will be felt up until 6:30 pm on Thursday night.

Conclusion

Asheville Regional Airport faced a power outage at its Air Traffic Control Tower due to a cut power line during construction, causing flight delays and inconvenience for travelers. The impact of the outage was felt by passengers not just in Asheville but across the country. Despite the challenges, airport operations resumed, and flights were back on schedule by noon. Travelers are advised to stay informed and be prepared for unexpected delays when planning their journeys.