FAA facility evacuation prompts Chicago flight delays

Flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International and Midway airports were delayed on Tuesday due to smoke being discovered at a nearby Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

The facility, which is a Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON tower located in Elgin, Ill., was evacuated Tuesday evening, according to the report. 

The incident resulted in more than 1,500 flights being canceled and another 1,400 being delayed. 

{mosads}The paper said the flight troubles in Chicago were exasperated by thunderstorms in the area on Monday that had already backed up flights. 

The majority of the flight delays that were related to the FAA facility in Elgin took place at O’Hare International Airport, where more than 1,000 flights were canceled on Tuesday, according to the report.