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N.Y. flights delayed when dust sickens controllers
October 15, 1997
Web posted at: 4:01 p.m. EDT (2001 GMT)NEW YORK (CNN) -- Planes in or out of New York's three main airports were delayed Wednesday after more than half of the air traffic controllers were sickened by airborne dust from an overnight project to replace ceiling tiles.
The Long Island air traffic control center usually has 65 controllers on duty, but only 30 were able to work.
The reduced staffing most severely affected departures from Newark Airport.
No delays were reported immediately in takeoffs at Kennedy and La Guardia airports, but incoming flights to all three were curtailed, said Frank Hatfield, air traffic manager for the eastern region of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Hatfield said preliminary analysis indicated the dust was not asbestos, and no one was severely injured.
The flight delays were expected to continue throughout the afternoon. By midday, the longest delay was 52 minutes at Newark Airport, where 95 planes left late, Hatfield said.
The sick controllers complained of irritated eyes and skin and respiratory problems. Hatfield said a reduced force of mostly supervisory staff was on the job; none of them had felt ill effects from the dust.
Hoods that cover the head and pump oxygen and filter particles from the air were brought to the center for workers who wanted to wear them.
Hazardous-materials specialists took samples from a coating of dust released when the ceiling was opened. They also were running tests on the Fiberglas replacement tiles.
- Consumer News: Fitness and Health
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