San Diego Airport Faces Major Delays After Power Outage

A widespread power outage at San Diego International Airport (SAN) caused significant flight disruptions Thursday morning, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. The outage, which began around 6:30 a.m. PT, affected terminals, security checkpoints, and baggage systems, forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights.

Airport officials confirmed the outage was caused by an electrical equipment failure. Backup generators provided limited power, but critical systems remained offline for nearly three hours. By 9:15 a.m., power was restored, but residual delays persisted throughout the day.

Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Delta Air Lines reported the most cancellations, with at least 45 flights scrapped by midday. The FAA issued a ground stop for incoming flights during the outage, exacerbating delays across the West Coast.

Travelers took to social media to share images of crowded terminals and long security lines. Some passengers reported missing connections or being stuck on planes for hours. The airport advised travelers to check flight statuses before heading to SAN.

The outage comes during a busy spring travel period, with many families flying for Easter weekend. SAN is the busiest single-runway airport in the U.S., handling over 25 million passengers annually. This incident highlights growing infrastructure concerns as air travel demand rebounds.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria acknowledged the disruption, stating the city is working with airport officials to prevent future outages. The airport has not yet provided a detailed timeline for compensation or refunds for affected passengers.