Cancellations, delays continue after ground stop at O'Hare, Midway airports

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are more cancellations and delays at O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport, but both Chicago airports are slowly recovering Sunday, two days after authorities say a contract employee sabotaged the air traffic control facility in Aurora.

As of 10:30 a.m., 550 flights were cancelled at O'Hare with delays averaging around 30 minutes, Department of Aviation officials said. More than 50 flights were cancelled at Midway with delays averaging around 40 minutes. United Airlines said it expects to operate two-thirds of nearly 600 departures from O'Hare Sunday, while American Airlines said 269 of its flights in and out of O'Hare have been cancelled. Southwest Airlines said it expects to operate 12 flights per hour throughout the day.

Brian Howard, 36, has been fired after he allegedly set equipment on fire and reportedly cut wires before trying to kill himself, officials said. Howard was a field technician for Harris Corporation and had worked for the company for eight years. Investigators are talking to Howard's coworkers and family to try and get a better understanding of his motives. He had recently been told he would be transferred to Hawaii.

PHOTOS: Fire at regional FAA facility grounds Chicago flights

Travelers were still facing frustration Saturday night as hundreds of flights were cancelled, causing some people to spend the night at O'Hare.

The crowds were thick around baggage claim as passengers made their way to Chicago. Most are delayed, but happy to be here regardless. Bonni Gross is home from New York, about three hours later than planned.

"The travel back here was horrible. They kept changing and delaying the flight and it was delayed about three hours," she said.

While that's inconvenient, there are thousands of people still trying to catch flights out of Chicago. Some are trying to re-book at the airport, others are still waiting.

Cancellations and delays are costing the airlines a bundle and potentially costing millions to other businesses in lost productivity because of stranded employees.

"It's really going to hit the airlines in the bottom line because a lot of return trips are now cancelled, flights are going to come back partially empty," said Joe Schwieterman, DePaul transportation professor.

The news is not all bad, however. Carol Krepp arrived home to Chicago Saturday night three hours late but she spent the extra time in San Diego.

"I went to my grandson's soccer game, I went to my granddaughter's swimming and I didn't know about it," she said.

Both airlines and airport officials are urging passengers to call ahead to check on the status of their flights at www.fly.faa.gov. They are hoping the worst is over and that come Monday operations and O'Hare and Midway will be closer to normal.