Atlanta Airport Power Outage: What Caused The Blackout?

On December 17, 2017, a power outage lasting nearly 11 hours crippled Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, causing travel chaos and stranding thousands of passengers in dark terminals and on planes sitting on the tarmac. The power outage was caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility, which also damaged the airport's backup power system. This incident highlighted the significant impact of power disruptions on airport operations and the need for improved electrical infrastructure and resilience in airports.

An underground electrical fire

On Sunday, December 17, 2017, an underground electrical fire caused a power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport. The fire started in a Georgia Power underground electrical facility, damaging two substations that served the airport, including its "redundant system" that should have provided backup power.

The fire caused a complete power outage that grounded flights and plunged passengers into darkness, with automatic doors unable to open and baggage retrieval systems failing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a ground stop at the airport, preventing Atlanta-bound flights from taking off and forcing inbound flights to be diverted. This affected not just the airport but also flights at other airports, with a ripple effect on air travel across the United States.

The power outage left thousands of passengers stranded in dark terminals and on planes stuck on the tarmac, with some spending nearly seven hours waiting to move. People used flashlights on their phones to navigate the airport, with some describing the scene as "apocalyptic." The power outage also impacted the SkyTrain rail system, and firefighters had to rescue passengers.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but it was not believed to have been started deliberately. Georgia Power stated that a piece of switchgear, a type of equipment in the underground electrical facility, could have failed and started the fire. The incident was still under investigation by Georgia Power and authorities.

Backup power system failure

On Sunday, December 17, 2017, a fire in an underground electrical facility caused a massive power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport. The fire damaged two substations serving the airport, including the "redundant system" that should have provided backup power. This backup power system failure resulted in a complete loss of power across the airport, affecting all operations and equipment.

The backup power system, known as the "redundant system", is designed to provide an alternate source of electricity in the event of a primary power failure. However, the intensity of the fire damaged this system, preventing it from functioning as intended. This failure had a significant impact on the airport's ability to maintain essential operations during the outage.

The power outage started around 1:00 p.m. and lasted for approximately 11 hours, causing more than 1,000 flight cancellations and stranding thousands of passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a ground stop, preventing Atlanta-bound flights from taking off and diverting inbound flights to other airports.

The backup power system failure, along with the primary power outage, contributed to the lengthy disruption at the airport. It highlighted the importance of reliable backup power systems at critical infrastructure facilities like airports. In the aftermath of this incident, there is a renewed focus on enhancing the electrical resilience of airports to minimize the impact of future power disruptions.

To address this issue, airports are taking several actions, including conducting electrical infrastructure assessments, improving electrical infrastructure, and installing equipment to generate additional backup power. By investing in more robust and redundant power systems, airports aim to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future and to ensure the safety and efficiency of their operations.

1,000+ flights cancelled

A power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2017 led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a ground stop at the airport, suspending outgoing flights and preventing incoming flights from taking off. This prevented Atlanta-bound flights from departing and caused inbound flights to be diverted.

The power outage started around 1:00 p.m. on a Sunday, affecting all airport operations. It lasted for approximately 11 hours, with power being restored just before midnight. The cause of the outage was a fire in an underground electrical facility, according to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Georgia Power. The fire damaged two substations serving the airport, including the "redundant system" that should have provided backup power.

The power outage stranded thousands of passengers in dark terminals and on planes stuck on the tarmac. Some passengers reported using flashlights on their phones to navigate the airport, while others slept in the terminals. CNN's Betsy Klein spent nearly seven hours on a plane on the tarmac, documenting the experience on Twitter.

The disruption caused by the power outage extended beyond the airport, impacting air travel across the United States. Delta Airlines, which has its largest hub in Atlanta, was particularly affected, with more than 900 flights cancelled on Sunday and 300 on Monday. The cancellations and delays continued into the following days, affecting the Christmas travel rush.

30,000+ passengers affected

On Sunday, December 17, 2017, a power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, affected an estimated 30,000 people. The power outage started around 1:00 p.m. and ended just before midnight, causing an 11-hour disruption.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a ground stop at the airport, suspending outgoing flights and preventing incoming flights from taking off. This resulted in the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights to and from the airport, with some sources reporting up to 1,200 cancellations. The power outage also impacted airport operations beyond just flights, as passengers inside the airport were left stranded in dark terminals and on planes stuck on the tarmac.

Passengers described the airport as "apocalyptic," with people sleeping everywhere and flashlights on their phones to navigate the dark. The power outage was caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility, which also damaged the airport's "redundant system" that should have provided backup power. Georgia Power, the utility company, stated that their equipment in the underground facility could have failed and started the fire, but the incident was still under investigation.

The impact of the power outage extended beyond the affected passengers, as the disruption at the heart of the US air transport system rippled to other airports across the country. The cancellation of flights to and from Atlanta caused a ripple effect of delays and cancellations at connecting airports. The total cost of the outage to the airline was estimated at around $50 million.

The power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport highlighted the importance of reliable electricity for airport operations and the need for improved electrical resilience at airports to minimize future disruptions.

Power restored after 11 hours

Power was restored to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after an 11-hour outage that left thousands stranded. The airport, the busiest in the world, was brought to a standstill by a fire in an underground electrical facility. The fire damaged two substations serving the airport, including the "redundant system" that should have provided backup power.

The power outage started around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2017, and ended just before midnight. It affected all airport operations, with more than 1,000 flights cancelled and an estimated 30,000 people impacted. The Federal Aviation Administration declared a ground stop, preventing Atlanta-bound flights from taking off and causing inbound flights to be diverted.

Inside the airport, passengers were left stranded in dark terminals as automatic doors failed to open and baggage could not be retrieved. People used flashlights on their phones to navigate, with some describing the scene as "apocalyptic". The power outage also affected the SkyTrain rail system, and firefighters had to rescue passengers.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but Georgia Power stated that it could have been started by a piece of switchgear failing in their underground electrical facility. The incident caused significant disruption to air travel, with further delays and cancellations expected in the following days.

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