A busy Sunday morning at Houston’s Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, working the post-Christmas rush, took a turn for the worse when staffers were faced with a messy, aromatic, and disgusting sewage spill inside the building. Controllers continued to work, taking breaks every 20 minutes to seek fresh air outside the facility. The FAA slowed the workload with ground delays, snarling traffic throughout the region. The sewage spill left 25 controllers reporting ill effects, including lightheadedness, nausea and headaches, according to a news release from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). The TRACON building has been troubled by flooding in the past, NATCA said. About 500 flights were delayed.
Houston TRACON Deals With Sewage Leak
Key Takeaways:
- A sewage spill at Houston's Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility occurred during a busy post-Christmas rush.
- Despite the hazardous conditions, air traffic controllers continued to work, with 25 reporting ill effects such as lightheadedness, nausea, and headaches.
- The incident led the FAA to implement ground delays, affecting approximately 500 flights and causing significant regional traffic snarls.
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