NUEVA YORK — A pesadilla de viajes internacionales dearrolló en el aeropuerto JFK el jueves cuando a corte de energía cerró a terminal ocupada en el centro de la Ciudad de Nueva York, deteniendo los vuelos de entrada y salida, y parcece probable que continúe hasta Friday.
Queens Airport Terminal 1 experienced a power outage “caused by an electrical panel failure, which also caused a small isolated fire overnight which was immediately extinguished”, according to the Port Authority. The group said the outage affected the terminal’s ability to accept inbound and outbound flights.
It should take until around 9 a.m. Friday until service can be fully restored, as the Federal Aviation Administration said the terminal ramp will be out of service until then. Meanwhile, passengers were stranded at the terminal, which serves international airlines, amid much chaos and confusion.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, nobody knows about the situation, or so it seems,” said frustrated passenger Anthony Russo, who was hoping to make it to London. “I had a lot planned, I was going to see friends and now I don’t know what’s going on.”
On Thursday evening, airlines were handwriting their flight cancellations because the large electronic whiteboard was still out. They were handing out leaflets to passengers, one of which from Lufthansa said “unfortunately your flight has been cancelled”.
“They canceled our flight, we have to go home and see what we have to do. I hope they will reimburse me for the hotel and the connection that I miss,” said passenger Dina Salemo, hoping to reach Sicily . “What can I do, I just have to wait.”