Flights Rerouted From John Wayne After Lights Go Out

More than 20 commercial flights to and from John Wayne Airport were rerouted Monday as the main runway remained dark for a second night following a power outage Sunday, airport officials said.

A total of about 20 arrivals and departures were rerouted to Los Angeles or Ontario, and another six were canceled after the lights first went out at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, inconveniencing passengers who then had to be bused to Orange County, according to Jan Mittermeier, assistant airport manager.

It was not known Monday night whether the problem affecting the 5,700-foot runway would be solved in time to prevent disruptions in this evening’s flight schedules.

“We still don’t know why the lights went out,” Mittermeier said. “But we have some people working on them.”

Workers found one of the airport’s underground electrical vaults flooded with water late Monday afternoon, according to airport facilities officer Bill Pemberton.

“We have to stop everything until we get a pump,” Pemberton said, adding that county electricians and airport maintenance staff workers still were not sure the water had caused the outage. He said work was scheduled to resume first thing this morning.

American Airlines was the hardest hit passenger carrier, with about 15 flights disrupted on both Sunday and Monday nights, according to company spokesman Dan White. The flights were rerouted to either Los Angeles International Airport or Ontario International Airport, he said.

“It’s kind of funny, but people accept it a lot easier when it’s not related to an airline operation,” said Mike G. Taccone, a USAir supervisor.

USAir, which canceled four flights from John Wayne Airport, scrambled to find private bus and van services to shuttle its stranded customers to other airports.

“We’re busing people out of here into Long Beach (Municipal Airport) and Los Angeles,” Taccone said, adding that an afternoon warning by airport officials helped the airlines prepare for the night’s confusion.

Waiting to Board Buses

The airport’s lobbies were as crowded as usual Monday night, but instead of waiting to board airplanes, the passengers waited to board chartered buses that were lined up next to the idled jets on the runway.

Airport officials said most passengers took the temporary delay in stride and considered the situation a minor inconvenience.

Vacationing Rick Sherrell, who was returning to Portland with his wife and three children, echoed the sentiment of most passengers who were delayed Monday night.

“I don’t really care that much, as long as we get there,” Sherrell said. “There were a few hotheads, but the airline made special arrangements for them.”

USAir’s Taccone said, “Last night it was sudden, but tonight we knew in advance, so it wasn’t quite as bad.”

A shorter John Wayne Airport runway for small planes was not affected, according to Elly Brekke, spokeswoman for the FAA in Los Angeles.

“Hopefully, with the right equipment, they will be able to pinpoint the trouble,” Brekke said. “I just don’t know when.”