U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Sunday
that he will seek an investigation into how a contract employee was able
to sabotage a regional control center and bring Chicago's two
international airports to a halt.
The Illinois Democrat
told The Associated Press that he will ask inspectors general at the
U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation
Administration to investigate whether there was a security breach when
the employee entered the building early Friday with a suitcase without
causing suspicion. He then started a fire in the basement
telecommunications room before attempting to commit suicide by slashing
his throat.
The arson caused the
cancellations of more than 2,000 flights on Friday. On Sunday, 550
flights were canceled at O'Hare and 50 at Midway. Durbin said 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 entire
central communications network at the center. “Thank God nobody lost
their lives, but it could have happened in this circumstance," Durbin
said.
Brian Howard, 36, of
Naperville, is charged with destruction of aircraft or aircraft
facilities, a felony. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20
years in prison.
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