Durbin seeks investigation of airport sabotage
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) said Sunday that he'll seek an investigation into how FAA contract employee Brian Howard was able to sabotage a regional control center, bring Chicago's two international airports to a halt, and disrupt travel nationwide. Howard, 36, entered the building in Aurora, Ill., early Friday with a suitcase without causing suspicion and started a fire in the basement telecom room before slashing his throat.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) said Sunday that he'll seek an investigation into how FAA contract employee Brian Howard was able to sabotage a regional control center, bring Chicago's two international airports to a halt, and disrupt travel nationwide. Howard, 36, entered the building in Aurora, Ill., early Friday with a suitcase without causing suspicion and started a fire in the basement telecom room before slashing his throat.
Durbin said that FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told him that 23 of 29 computer racks were damaged, and the FAA said Sunday that it decided to replace the center's entire central communications network. On Sunday, 550 flights were canceled at O'Hare and 50 at Midway. The FAA said improvements were expected on Monday, although the system would not be fully functional. - Associated Press