CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says the head of the Federal Aviation Administration will visit a Chicago-area communications center that was sabotaged by a fire that shut down Chicago’s two international airports.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta will visit the center on Friday, then meet with members of Illinois’ congressional delegation. Lawmakers have called for an investigation into how a former contract employee entered the building with a suitcase last Friday without causing suspicion.
Federal prosecutors say 36 -year-old Brian Howard of Naperville started a fire in the basement telecommunications room before attempting to commit suicide.
At the height of the travel misery, more than 2,000 flights in and out of the airports were canceled, disrupting travel nationwide.
The FAA says it hopes to return the facility to full service by Oct. 13.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.