Fire at Miami Airport Causes Delays

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

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Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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A fire at Miami International Airport on Wednesday night could cause delays in the coming days as crews clean up and repair the damage. According to the Miami Herald, “Problems began late Wednesday night, when a fire sparked into a billowing blaze near six fuel tanks on the southeast side of the airport, away from tarmacs. The tanks—known collectively as a fuel farm—together hold 8 million gallons of fuel feeding 14 underground pumps that send 2,000 gallons of fuel each hour to trucks near terminals to refuel airplanes. The tanks hold more than half the airport’s fuel supplies.”

The fire led to 179 flight cancellations and numerous other delays, but that may just be the beginning. The fire damaged the airport’s fuel delivery system, meaning fuel that was previously delivered to planes via pipes and pumps must now be trucked around the tarmac. Some auxiliary pumps have been installed to provide partial relief to the system, but operations are nevertheless moving slowly.

So, for the time being, passengers flying through Miami should expect some delays. And as for how long the “time being” will last, no one seems to know just yet. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze, and airport officials offered no timeline for repairs.

Passengers should check their flight status and/or contact their airline before leaving for the airport. American, which is the largest carrier at Miami, has, unsurprisingly, been the worst hit by delays and cancellations.

Readers, are you planning on flying through Miami in the coming days?

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