Over 200 Flights Delayed Into or Out of Orlando International Airport After Cold Weather Trips Fire Alarm
Travelers heading to or from Orlando International Airport this afternoon experienced delays after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop.
According to officials, the ground stop was triggered after a fire alarm was activated due to cold weather conditions.
Photo: Disney
At around 3:30 PM, airport fire rescue personnel responded to a fire alarm at the air traffic control tower.
Over 200 flights were delayed at Orlando International Aiport this afternoon after a ground stop was issued. Photo: MCO
Thankfully, the alarm turned out to be a false one, and everyone was safe.
The Cause of the Ground Stop
According to MCO officials, the cold weather, with temperatures around 43 degrees, caused a sprinkler head in the fire safety system to activate. As a result, the tower was evacuated as a precaution.
Photo: Twitter/Orlando Internation Airport
“Out of an abundance of caution, and because the alarm alerted to water flow, ATC staff evacuated the tower,” spokesperson Gregory Angel told the Orlando Sentinel.
Photo: Orlando International Airport
“ARFF was immediately on scene and was able to quickly determine that a sprinkler head activated inside the tower due to the cold weather. There was no indication of a fire. No hazards were found, other than the water flow.”
Flights Gradually Returned to Normal Operations
By 4:15 PM, the FAA lifted the ground stop as air traffic controllers were able to return to the tower. Flight operations gradually returned to normal throughout the afternoon.
Photo: OIA
According to FlightAware, however, 213 flights were delayed either arriving at or departing from Orlando International Airport.
Photo: MickeyBlog
