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Bloomberg
Flights from New York’s LaGuardia airport were operating normally on December 28 after some were delayed or diverted overnight because of an explosion at an electrical substation that temporarily cut off power.
“We have normal flight activity,†the airport said in a tweet shortly after 9 am in New York. Travellers should still check with their carrier on the status of their flight and allow extra time when arriving at the airport, according to LaGuardia’s website.
Delays at LaGuardia amid rainy weather were no worse than at the two other major New York-area hubs, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, according to data compiled by FlightAware.
The explosion in the Astoria neighbourhood of Queens illuminated the skyline with a bright blue light. The glow could be seen from Manhattan shortly after following a “brief electrical fire†at the facility in the Northern Queens neighbourhood, said Bob McGee, a spokesman for utility Consolidated Edison Inc.
LaGuardia had to switch to backup generators during the blackout. Power has since been restored but not before Delta Air Lines Inc. and American Airlines diverted some of their flights to nearby airports.
The blue light prompted a wave of commentary on social media, with New Yorkers joking about its origins. It’s “*Not* aliens,†tweeted Eric Phillips, a spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“There was a brief electrical fire at our substation on 20th Avenue & 32nd Street in Astoria this evening, which caused a transmission dip,†Con Ed tweeted. “All power lines serving the area are in service and the system is stable.†The company said it’s investigating the cause of the blaze.