LAX Shut Down for 90 Minutes This Evening

Claiming that the entire airport was not closed, FAA officials announced this evening that LAX experienced a power outage that caused international backups.

According to the LA Times, at 5:30pm the world's fifth-busiest airport had to go on generator power because of unknown causes, immediately effecting flights in and out of our city. Power was later restored after 7pm.

One flight from San Jose to Southern California turned around shortly after takeoff and returned to San Jose, airport spokeswoman Marina Renneke said. One flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, and another from Seattle were diverted to San Jose. Ten other planes scheduled to fly to Southern California were grounded, Renneke said.

Two Alaska Airlines flights headed to Southern California were diverted to Oakland International Airport, airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes said.

Planes also returned to San Francisco International Airport, where customs officials were on alert for the possibility of international flights being sent to San Francisco.