August 29th 2024.
On a Wednesday afternoon, a mishap occurred at Denver International Airport's concourse train, causing quite a commotion. The train, which was already experiencing technical difficulties, suddenly sent out sparks and electric arcs when a part of it touched the rail. This unexpected incident caused delays and disruptions at the airport for almost two hours.
Passengers waiting for their flights were packed into train waiting areas and took to social media to share photos of the chaotic scene. Some even reported missing their flights, but the exact number of affected passengers was not provided by airline officials when contacted by The Denver Post.
According to airport spokesperson Courtney Law, the malfunction happened around 2:40 p.m. when a part of a train car made contact with the rail, resulting in sporadic sparks and electrical arcs. The Denver Fire Department was called to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the smoke from the discharge had already dissipated.
All terminal trains were halted for approximately 20 minutes and then resumed running at a reduced capacity as technicians worked to repair the damaged track. Thankfully, the airport crew was able to fix the track in just over an hour, and by 4:30 p.m., the trains were back to running at full capacity.
The incident caused significant disruptions for United Airlines, with spokesperson Russell Carlton stating that their operations were affected for four hours. This included delays and backed-up security lines, as well as the need to mobilize employees to assist customers.
As for Southwest Airlines, they did not provide any comments on the matter when contacted on Thursday. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, there were a total of 282 delayed flights and eight cancellations at DIA on Wednesday. These numbers were similar to earlier in the week, with 373 delayed flights on Monday and 196 on Tuesday.
In the midst of all the chaos, Denver International Airport is bracing for the upcoming Labor Day weekend travel surge. With more than 700 flights delayed or cancelled due to thunderstorms, it's understandable why travelers may be feeling a bit wary. However, with the repairs completed and trains running smoothly again, hopefully, the rest of the holiday weekend will go off without a hitch. Stay updated on all things Colorado by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
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