A power outage at JFK Airport, combined with severe weather, is jamming up flights into and out of the airport.
The American Airlines Terminal 8 at Kennedy Airport is experiencing a power outage, according to Port Authority, which oversees the area's airports. It doesn't appear power has been knocked out at any other terminal.
Escalators and elevators are out of service there, and checked-bag screening was delayed for a few hours, officials say. The bag screening system is back online, although electricians are still working to restore full power to the areas affected by the outage.
It appears the primary transformer that serves JFK's Terminal 8 failed, causing the partial outage, according to an American Airlines spokesperson.
American Airlines has advised customers to arrive at least two hours prior to departure, and to pack any essential items into carry-ons since checked bags may be delayed. Visit aa.com/travelalerts for more information.
Weather was also affecting arriving flights at JFK, with delays averaging about two hours for arriving flights in the early evening. Arriving flights at LaGuardia and Newark were also delayed.
Most lights out, no a/c, no walkways or escalators at JFK T8. Manual baggage delivery. Power outage. @AirlineFlyer pic.twitter.com/J4D0EoxtUX
— Anthony LaMesa (@ajlamesa) August 16, 2016
On Sunday night, a report of gunfire at the terminal led to a panicked evacuation of the airport. That scare started in Terminal 8 and led to Terminal 1. Authorities are exploring the possibility that loud, boisterous cheering of Usain Bolt's Olympic 100-meter dash victory prompted the scare.
