Power outage at LAX disrupts flights and operations

A power outage struck Los Angeles International Airport for nearly four hours Wednesday night, affecting everything from lighting to passenger bridges from terminals to planes.

The outage struck about 6:10 p.m., according to airport officials. It caused 21 flight cancellations and at least nine diversions of flights, according to an airport official.

Power was restored within an hour to terminals 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal, but terminals 1, 7 and 8 remained with only emergency power until just after 10 p.m.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power personnel were called in to restore power to those terminals and the city Department of Transportation was summoned to reset traffic signals in the terminal area.

Passengers on at least some Southwest Airlines planes at Terminal 1, where the airline is located, were unable to disembark because the jet bridges were not functioning.

The cause of the outage was not immediately determined, according to airport officials.

Around 9:30 p.m., officials said Southwest Airlines had canceled its remaining outbound flights. It was not immediately clear how many flights were affected.

Soon after, officials announced that power had been restored to Terminal 7, where United Airlines operates.

One United flight, SkyWest Airlines Flight 5510 to San Luis Obispo, was canceled. Seven United flights were diverted and 15 were delayed, officials said.