Power Failure Leads to Flight Cancellations in Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) — Road salt that accumulated on a utility pole caused a fire Sunday that knocked out electrical power to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, leading to the cancellation of dozens of flights and leaving airline schedules uncertain for the rest of the day.

The fire, in suburban Brook Park near the airport, caused the pole to fall onto lines, interrupting power shortly before 7 a.m., according to the airport and the FirstEnergy Corporation, the electric utility serving the area.

The salt combined with moisture to act as a conductor for electricity in high voltage lines, starting a fire that smoldered inside the pole, according to the utility. Crews restored power around 2:30 p.m.

American, Continental, Southwest, united and US Airways were among the airlines that canceled flights after the power failure. Almost all of the day’s departures of about 260 flights were canceled.

The failure affected most of Continental’s 138 flights and shut down operations until 6 p.m., said a spokeswoman for the airline, Julie King.

Trying to get flights moving again after an interruption is difficult, Ms. King said.

“It’s a very slow process,” she said, “and there is still power down in some areas of operation.” Passengers were allowed to change schedules without penalty, she said.

A spokeswoman for American Airlines, Andrea Huguely, said the airline had canceled 16 American Eagle flights, both inbound and outbound, as a result of the power failure. Ms. Huguely said the routes mainly affected were to and from Chicago and Dallas, and one flight from Kennedy Airport in New York.

United Airlines canceled two flights. A spokesman, Mike Trevino, said the power failure had a “minimal impact” on the airline.

The power failure affected the terminal, which had limited lighting from a backup generator, and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s rapid transit stop at the airport. The tower and airfields were operating normally, and flights were still able to land, said Jackie Mayo, a spokeswoman for the airport.