NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion C Palm Beach County

Actions

Palm Beach International Airport power restored after service impacted

Planes weren't departing but those arriving were landing
Passengers wait in line amid power outage at Palm Beach International Airport, Jan. 27, 2024
Posted at 5:17 PM, Jan 27, 2024
and last updated 2024-01-27 22:40:43-05

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The electrical power system was out temporarily at Palm Beach International Airport, impacting service, including all departures, on Saturday afternoon.

The airport was on generator power, marketing director Nicole Hughes told WPTV.

The power went out at 4:50 p.m., Hughes said.

Florida Power & Light crews worked to restore power.

"We are aware of a service interruption at Palm Beach International Airport impacting one of the main terminals," FPL spokesman Marshall Hastings said in an email. "FPL crews worked safely and as quickly as possible alongside airport staff and restored power shortly after 5 p.m."

In an updated message, he said: "The outage was a result of equipment owned by the airport."
 
Hughes said flights were able to land and passengers got off the planes.

However, the baggage and ticket scanning systems were not operating.

Eight departing flights had been listed as delayed and three arrivals were delayed.

WPTV report Cassandra Garcia said there were a lot of people sitting around and many of the lights were out.

"We were supposed to leave at 6:15. It's been delayed to 7:30 so far," Tom Spencer told Garcia.

Tom Spencer describes waiting at Palm Beach International Airport, Jan. 27, 2024
Tom Spencer discusses being delayed for his flight at Palm Beach International Airport, Jan. 27, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Stephanie Fullington said her flight was delayed about two hours.

"So, we'll see," she said. "I'm going to try and get it (board pass) printed and we'll see."

WPTV received an email from a woman who said her plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was on the tarmac for one hour.

"We are now heading back to airport. They told us that the power will be down longer than three hours," she emailed.

The Federal Aviation Administration National Airspace System was not showing anything on its alert system.

A Palm Beach County Fire Rescue spokesman said Air-Stair 81, a motorized set of stairs, was requested in one instance to assist an aircraft at a gate. There were no reports of injuries.