Lois Larson
Power outages can have a significant impact on airport operations, and the Oakland International Airport has indeed been affected by power outages on multiple occasions. In February 2023, a major power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation shut down the airport, leaving passengers stranded for hours. The airport was without power for at least two hours, causing flight delays and disruptions to security operations. Similarly, in November 2019, a power outage affected the airport, causing delays and impacting thousands of travellers during the holiday season. While backup generators were used, the airport worked to restore full power to the terminal complex. These incidents highlight the challenges airports face during power outages and the importance of effective contingency measures to minimise disruptions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 20th February 2023 |
| Cause | A fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. substation |
| Affected areas | Oakland and Alameda |
| Affected customers | 50,000 |
| Affected flights | 170 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Oakland Airport halts flights
On the evening of Sunday, February 19, 2023, a major power outage caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) substation shut down the Oakland Airport in Northern California, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers. The blackout, which started just before 1 p.m., left more than 50,000 Oakland residents without power for hours, with 8,526 customers still affected as of 8:30 p.m. The airport itself was impacted for at least two hours, with stranded passengers waiting for hours as officials worked to restore power.
The fire that triggered the outage was located near 50th Avenue and Coliseum Way, and Oakland Fire officials confirmed that it originated from a transformer inside the PG&E yard. PG&E officials are investigating the cause of the fire and working to restore power to all customers. In a tweet, PG&E corporate relations representative Tamar Sarkissian assured customers that the matter is under investigation and provided updates on the timing of restoration.
The power outage caused significant disruptions to airport operations, with passengers reporting delayed flights and lengthy security lines. Some travelers shared photos and videos on social media, depicting the stranded crowds waiting at their gates and in security lines. The situation was further exacerbated by the limited service provided by the Oakland Airport Connector, which operated shuttles departing every 18 minutes during the outage.
While the fire was extinguished by 2:30 p.m. on the same day, the impact of the power outage lasted well into the evening. PG&E estimated that some customers might remain without power for up to 12 hours as they worked to replace the transformer. The utility company anticipated that service would be fully restored by early Monday morning.
This incident highlights the significant impact that power outages can have on critical infrastructure such as airports. The prolonged disruption caused by the outage not only inconvenienced travelers but also posed potential safety and logistical challenges for airport authorities. It underscores the importance of reliable power supply and backup systems in ensuring the smooth operation of airports and other vital transportation hubs.
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PG&E investigates the cause
PG&E is investigating the cause of a power outage in Oakland that disrupted airport operations and left thousands of residents without power. The outage, which started just before 1 pm on Sunday, was caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) substation near 50th Avenue and Coliseum Way. According to an Oakland Fire battalion chief, the fire originated from inside the PG&E yard, with a transformer actively burning.
PG&E officials are working to determine the cause of the fire and the subsequent power outage. In a tweet, PG&E corporate relations representative Tamar Sarkissian stated that they are investigating the details of the outage and will provide more information on the timing of restoration as soon as possible. PG&E estimated that some customers might remain without power for up to 12 hours as they worked to replace the transformer.
The power outage impacted approximately 50,000 customers in the Bay Area, including Oakland International Airport, which serves about 170 flights a day. The airport lost power for nearly two hours, causing delayed flights and disrupted security lines. Photos and videos on social media showed stranded passengers waiting at their gates and in security lines, which had been shut down for hours.
While the immediate fire was extinguished by 2:30 pm, PG&E continued to investigate the cause of the outage and worked to restore power to all affected customers. By Monday afternoon, power had been restored to the remaining 8,500 customers impacted by the outage. PG&E will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the outage to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
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Passengers stranded for hours
A major power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation shut down Oakland Airport in Northern California for at least two hours on a Sunday evening in February 2023, leaving passengers stranded for hours. The fire broke out at a Pacific Gas and Electric substation around 1 pm, impacting more than 9,000 customers in the Bay Area. Photos and videos posted on social media showed stranded passengers waiting at their gates and in security lines, which were shut down for hours. Some passengers reported that their planes had landed, but they were unable to disembark, while others said their bags had not arrived. The power outage also delayed flights, causing some passengers to miss their connecting flights.
Oakland Airport officials said they were working to fully restore power and resolve the issues caused by the outage. In a tweet, PG&E corporate relations representative Tamar Sarkissian stated that they were investigating the cause of the outage and would provide updates on the timing of restoration as soon as possible. Oakland Fire officials confirmed that the fire had been extinguished, and PG&E officials were working to determine its cause.
The power outage not only affected the airport but also disrupted traffic access to Alameda, an island nearby. Alameda Municipal Power officials attributed the issue to a PG&E transmission line and tweeted that service had been restored to the island around 5:30 pm. The Bay Area Rapid Transit service to and from the airport was also temporarily halted due to the outage but resumed several hours later.
The Oakland International Airport spokesman, Robert Bernardo, confirmed that the airport lost power for nearly two hours. This power outage occurred on one of the busiest travel days of the year, causing significant inconvenience and frustration for travellers. While power was restored to most of the airport by 8 pm, it took until early Monday morning for service to be fully restored to all customers impacted by the outage.
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Power restored to some
On 19 February 2023, a major power outage caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) substation disrupted service at Oakland International Airport. The airport, which serves about 170 flights a day, lost power for nearly two hours, affecting thousands of travellers. The power outage impacted more than 50,000 Oakland residents, with 8,526 customers still without power as of 8:30 pm.
The Oakland Fire Department confirmed that the blaze had been extinguished by 2:30 pm, and PG&E officials worked to determine the cause. The utility company initially estimated that service would not be fully restored until early Monday morning, with some customers potentially remaining without power for up to 12 hours as they worked to replace the transformer.
By about 6:30 pm on Sunday, power had been restored to approximately 20,000 customers, and PG&E continued to work to restore power to the remaining impacted individuals. On Monday afternoon, PG&E successfully restored power to the remaining 8,500 customers affected by the massive outage. This swift restoration of power ensured that the disruption to homes and businesses across Oakland was minimised.
While the power outage caused significant inconvenience to travellers and residents, the timely response and restoration efforts by PG&E helped to alleviate the situation. The investigation into the cause of the outage is ongoing, with PG&E committed to conducting a thorough examination to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Limited airport services
On 19 February 2023, a power outage caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) substation disrupted services at Oakland International Airport. The airport, which serves about 170 flights a day, lost power for nearly two hours. This caused delayed flights and long waits at security. Security screening was temporarily halted, but flight arrivals continued during the outage.
Oakland Airport Connector service also ran a limited service, with shuttles departing every 18 minutes.
The power outage started just before 1 pm and was caused by a transformer fire at a substation near 50th Avenue and Coliseum Way. The blaze was extinguished by 2:30 pm, but 8,526 customers remained without power as of 8:30 pm. The utility company estimated that service would not be fully restored until early the next day.
PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian tweeted that the company was "working safely and quickly as possible to restore remaining customers." She added that some customers might remain without power for up to 12 hours as they worked to replace the transformer.
This is not the first time Oakland International Airport has experienced a power outage. In November 2019, a power disruption affected terminal and flight operations, causing similar delays and issues for holiday travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a power outage can affect the airport's operations, including security screening and flight departures.
In the event of a power outage, Oakland International Airport activates backup generators to maintain essential operations. However, there may still be delays in security screening and flight departures, as seen during previous outages.
The duration of the impact depends on the severity and length of the power outage. During a major outage in February 2023, the airport was affected for at least two hours, with passengers experiencing delays and disruptions.
Power outages at Oakland Airport can have various causes, including fires at electrical substations or issues with transformers. These incidents can disrupt the power supply to the airport and the surrounding areas.
The frequency of power outages at Oakland Airport is difficult to determine. While there have been several reported incidents, including one in February 2023 and another in November 2019, the airport works to restore power and operations as quickly as possible to minimize the impact on passengers and operations.
