Chicago airports continue to experience delays, cancellations

CHICAGO (KABC) -- Four days after the FAA air traffic control center in Aurora was forced offline, travelers hoping to fly out of O'Hare or Midway will likely experience flight delays or cancellations.

Authorities say a contract employee started a fire Friday at regional control center in suburban Aurora and then attempted to commit suicide. More than 2,000 flights were canceled that day at O'Hare and Midway international airports, disrupting travel nationwide.

About 300 flights were canceled at O'Hare Monday morning, and delays ranged from 30 to 60 minutes. No flights were canceled at Midway, but delays reached up to 40 minutes.

Air traffic controllers at neighboring facilities picked up the work normally handled at the FAA facility in west suburban Aurora. O'Hare operated at about 60 percent capacity this weekend. Midway worked up to about 75 percent capacity.

The computer infrastructure must be completely rebuilt in a different area of the building in Aurora. That work is not expected to be complete until Oct. 13. Travelers will likely see cancellations and delays persist for several days.

Stranded passengers tried to make the best of the situation this weekend.

"I was just visiting in Chicago. I was visiting my boyfriend. I was supposed to fly out yesterday morning. Because of everything that happened I got stuck here overnight again. It's been a little bit frustrating. But honestly, it's been kind of a blessing too because I got to spend more time with him. So it's been kind of nice," Lisa Elliott said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.