Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2015 4:58:53 GMT
Lawyer says suspect in Aurora radar center fire a danger to himself
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cancellations-continue-at-ohare-after-last-weeks-fire-20140929-story.html
By Jon Hilkevitch and Jason Meisner - Contact Reporters
Tribune reporters
The man charged with setting a fire at the Aurora radar facility, wreaking havoc on the nation's air traffic system, was ordered detained today after his lawyer declined to fight for his release.
Federal prosecutors argued that Brian Howard was a danger to the community and should remained jailed. Howard's attorney agreed he should stay in custody, but because his client poses a risk to himself, not the public.
“We think right now it’s best for him to be in a place that is secure," attorney Ronald Safer later told reporters.
Howard appeared in federal court dressed in green hospital clothes with a white bandage around his neck. As deputy marshals handcuffed Howard and led him from the courtroom, a family member called out, “We love you, Brian.”
A short time later, Safer briefly addressed a throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers in the courthouse lobby.
“On Friday morning Brian tried to take his life,” Safer said. “That he did so in a way that inconvenienced … many, many people is unacceptable and he deeply regrets that.”
Howard’s mother and sister attended the hearing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse but declined comment. Safer asked the media to respect the family’s privacy.
Howard, 36, of Naperville, faces one count of destruction of aircraft facilities.
Brian Howard
Brian Howard, 36, of Naperville, is charged with willfully damaging an air navigation facility and using fire to commit a federal felony. Authorities allege he set fire to the Aurora air traffic control center as part of a suicide attempt. Image from his sister's Facebook page and confirmed by the Tribune.
His first court hearing was held hours after the chief of the nation's civil aviation system announced he has ordered a review of air traffic control contingency plans to limit disruptions to the entire system when an isolated problem occurs.
"Over the next 30 days, they will take a look at our plans to make sure we are prepared to both assure the safety of aircraft, but also the efficiency of the system," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said, referring to the agency's Air Traffic Organization.
"I want to make sure we have all the tools in place to get our airspace back up and running as quickly as possible," he added during a speech at an air traffic conference in Maryland.
The review will include an examination of security measures in place at Federal Aviation Administration facilities, he said.
The FAA has come under intense criticism from some members of Congress and aviation experts over the incident and the appearance of lax security.
The economic impact of air traffic sabotage
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., questioned whether contract employees at FAA facilities should be allowed to work alone and unsupervised.
"If we need to make changes as a result of what happened on Friday to improve the system, we will not hesitate to do so," Huerta vowed.
The fire has grounded thousands of flights at Chicago's airports and disrupted thousands more across the country. The problems continued on Monday, with about 300 flights canceled at O'Hare International Airport and hundreds of others delays as the FAA worked to repair the damage at one of the nation's busiest air traffic control centers.
Lombard resident Gina Kociuba sat on a curb outside the US Airways check in.
Kociuba, who had gotten to the airport at 7 a.m., was expecting to catch an 11:10 a.m. flight to Phoenix for a business trip. She said she checked her flight status several times on her way to the airport -- only to learn once she arrived that it was delayed by nearly 1 1/2 hours.
While lines were considerably shorter than Friday, when hundreds waited to check in, some airlines still handled backups.
"What are you going to do," Kociuba said. "I guess I won't be going into work today. And now the line and there is bad again so I'm going to check in on my phone."
"I was expecting for this to be resolved. You would think they would have backup things in place to resort to, but apparently not ... It makes no sense that it would take this long (to fix)."
Doug Allen, 42, a Green Bay Packers fan from Phoenix, said he was concerned about delays as he headed to the airport Monday morning, but a third trip to Soldier Field was well worth the hassles of the travel.
"I actually got in after a 3 1/2 hour delay Saturday just in time for the game," said Allen, who waited in line this morning clad in his Packers shirt and holding a green pillow.
"It sounds like things are clearing up now."
The Aurora facility won't be fully operational until Oct. 13, according to the FAA. A statement from the agency late Sunday did not say when O’Hare and Midway would return to normal operations.
The FAA said it has brought in technicians from around the country to speed up the repairs. The first shipment of replacement equipment was scheduled to arrive late Sunday night, with more deliveries expected over the next few days.
While teams work around the clock to restore network connections at the facility, air traffic controllers who normally work at the Aurora facility are now working at surrounding air traffic facilities and other high-altitude traffic centers to safely move air traffic around the Chicago area.
“This is one of the most challenging situations that air traffic controllers and other FAA employees have faced since 9/11,” said Paul Rinaldi, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. “The damage to this critical facility is unlike anything we have seen before. Since the first moment when radar scopes went dark at Chicago Center Friday morning, controllers have ensured the highest level of safety at all times.”
Facilities in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Minneapolis have taken over the damaged facility’s responsibilities, according to avaiation officials. Each has worked with Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities in cities across the Midwest, including Chicago, Milwaukee, Fort Wayne and South Bend.
The fire was allegedly set by Howard, who worked for the Harris Corp., as part of a suicide attempt.
Howard was charged Friday afternoon with one count of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities. He remained hospitalized and under police guard on Sunday, said Thomas Ahern, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“We still don’t know what his motive was,” Ahern said. “We are still out there working, collecting evidence and interviewing family, friends and coworkers.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Sunday that the FAA is “going to look into it more deeply to see if Harris knew or should have known that there was something unusual here” involving Howard and his background.
Durbin said security failed to inspect the suitcase Howard brought into the facility, which he said held a gasoline container.
“A couple of things come to mind: First, inspecting whatever the employees bring in, even if they have security clearance going in and secondly, making sure that in critical positions, like the one where he was posted, there are two people. Not one, but two people. Now I know that’s more expense, but look at the expense associated with this disaster,” he said.
Tribune reporter Tony Briscoe contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune
Air Transportation Trials and Arbitration Air Transportation Industry Crime Brian Howard Aurora O'Hare International Airport
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cancellations-continue-at-ohare-after-last-weeks-fire-20140929-story.html
By Jon Hilkevitch and Jason Meisner - Contact Reporters
Tribune reporters
The man charged with setting a fire at the Aurora radar facility, wreaking havoc on the nation's air traffic system, was ordered detained today after his lawyer declined to fight for his release.
Federal prosecutors argued that Brian Howard was a danger to the community and should remained jailed. Howard's attorney agreed he should stay in custody, but because his client poses a risk to himself, not the public.
“We think right now it’s best for him to be in a place that is secure," attorney Ronald Safer later told reporters.
Howard appeared in federal court dressed in green hospital clothes with a white bandage around his neck. As deputy marshals handcuffed Howard and led him from the courtroom, a family member called out, “We love you, Brian.”
A short time later, Safer briefly addressed a throng of reporters, cameramen and photographers in the courthouse lobby.
“On Friday morning Brian tried to take his life,” Safer said. “That he did so in a way that inconvenienced … many, many people is unacceptable and he deeply regrets that.”
Howard’s mother and sister attended the hearing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse but declined comment. Safer asked the media to respect the family’s privacy.
Howard, 36, of Naperville, faces one count of destruction of aircraft facilities.
Brian Howard
Brian Howard, 36, of Naperville, is charged with willfully damaging an air navigation facility and using fire to commit a federal felony. Authorities allege he set fire to the Aurora air traffic control center as part of a suicide attempt. Image from his sister's Facebook page and confirmed by the Tribune.
His first court hearing was held hours after the chief of the nation's civil aviation system announced he has ordered a review of air traffic control contingency plans to limit disruptions to the entire system when an isolated problem occurs.
"Over the next 30 days, they will take a look at our plans to make sure we are prepared to both assure the safety of aircraft, but also the efficiency of the system," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said, referring to the agency's Air Traffic Organization.
"I want to make sure we have all the tools in place to get our airspace back up and running as quickly as possible," he added during a speech at an air traffic conference in Maryland.
The review will include an examination of security measures in place at Federal Aviation Administration facilities, he said.
The FAA has come under intense criticism from some members of Congress and aviation experts over the incident and the appearance of lax security.
The economic impact of air traffic sabotage
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., questioned whether contract employees at FAA facilities should be allowed to work alone and unsupervised.
"If we need to make changes as a result of what happened on Friday to improve the system, we will not hesitate to do so," Huerta vowed.
The fire has grounded thousands of flights at Chicago's airports and disrupted thousands more across the country. The problems continued on Monday, with about 300 flights canceled at O'Hare International Airport and hundreds of others delays as the FAA worked to repair the damage at one of the nation's busiest air traffic control centers.
Lombard resident Gina Kociuba sat on a curb outside the US Airways check in.
Kociuba, who had gotten to the airport at 7 a.m., was expecting to catch an 11:10 a.m. flight to Phoenix for a business trip. She said she checked her flight status several times on her way to the airport -- only to learn once she arrived that it was delayed by nearly 1 1/2 hours.
While lines were considerably shorter than Friday, when hundreds waited to check in, some airlines still handled backups.
"What are you going to do," Kociuba said. "I guess I won't be going into work today. And now the line and there is bad again so I'm going to check in on my phone."
"I was expecting for this to be resolved. You would think they would have backup things in place to resort to, but apparently not ... It makes no sense that it would take this long (to fix)."
Doug Allen, 42, a Green Bay Packers fan from Phoenix, said he was concerned about delays as he headed to the airport Monday morning, but a third trip to Soldier Field was well worth the hassles of the travel.
"I actually got in after a 3 1/2 hour delay Saturday just in time for the game," said Allen, who waited in line this morning clad in his Packers shirt and holding a green pillow.
"It sounds like things are clearing up now."
The Aurora facility won't be fully operational until Oct. 13, according to the FAA. A statement from the agency late Sunday did not say when O’Hare and Midway would return to normal operations.
The FAA said it has brought in technicians from around the country to speed up the repairs. The first shipment of replacement equipment was scheduled to arrive late Sunday night, with more deliveries expected over the next few days.
While teams work around the clock to restore network connections at the facility, air traffic controllers who normally work at the Aurora facility are now working at surrounding air traffic facilities and other high-altitude traffic centers to safely move air traffic around the Chicago area.
“This is one of the most challenging situations that air traffic controllers and other FAA employees have faced since 9/11,” said Paul Rinaldi, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. “The damage to this critical facility is unlike anything we have seen before. Since the first moment when radar scopes went dark at Chicago Center Friday morning, controllers have ensured the highest level of safety at all times.”
Facilities in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Minneapolis have taken over the damaged facility’s responsibilities, according to avaiation officials. Each has worked with Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities in cities across the Midwest, including Chicago, Milwaukee, Fort Wayne and South Bend.
The fire was allegedly set by Howard, who worked for the Harris Corp., as part of a suicide attempt.
Howard was charged Friday afternoon with one count of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities. He remained hospitalized and under police guard on Sunday, said Thomas Ahern, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“We still don’t know what his motive was,” Ahern said. “We are still out there working, collecting evidence and interviewing family, friends and coworkers.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Sunday that the FAA is “going to look into it more deeply to see if Harris knew or should have known that there was something unusual here” involving Howard and his background.
Durbin said security failed to inspect the suitcase Howard brought into the facility, which he said held a gasoline container.
“A couple of things come to mind: First, inspecting whatever the employees bring in, even if they have security clearance going in and secondly, making sure that in critical positions, like the one where he was posted, there are two people. Not one, but two people. Now I know that’s more expense, but look at the expense associated with this disaster,” he said.
Tribune reporter Tony Briscoe contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune
Air Transportation Trials and Arbitration Air Transportation Industry Crime Brian Howard Aurora O'Hare International Airport