x
Breaking News
More () »

COVID case among air traffic control staff cause flight delays at DIA

Flights were being held while crews cleaned an FAA facility after at least four employees tested positive for COVID-19.

DENVER — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was reporting delays of nearly 2 1/2 hours for flights coming to Denver International Airport (DIA) Tuesday evening, after an air traffic control employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Before the ground delay was lifted about 6:30 p.m., some planes that hadn’t departed yet for Denver were being held at their departing airports, according to DIA. 

The delays were due to cleaning the Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON) — FAA's arm that runs traffic control operations — which is located near the airport, DIA said. 

Air traffic controllers were working from another location while the facility was cleaned.

Four employees at the facility tested positive for COVID-19 on the following dates, the FAA said: Oct. 23, Nov. 22, Nov. 27 and Dec. 1 

> Video above: Holiday travel tips at DIA.

Searching DIA arrivals late Tuesday afternoon showed a mixture of early or on-time landings coming from flights that were currently in the air, to 2-to-3-hour delays from planes that had not yet left their airport for Denver.

Some departures from DIA were affected, too.

RELATED: DIA officials hope to start Phase 2 of Great Hall Project next summer

RELATED: First 4 gates of DIA expansion project open

RELATED: Holiday travel tips to safely navigate DIA

RELATED: DIA activates first phase of new parking system

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: DIA at 25  

Before You Leave, Check This Out