DIA Delays After Air Traffic Controller Tests Positive For COVID-19

There were almost 2 2/1 hours of delays for incoming flights to Denver International Airport on Tuesday evening (December 1) after an air traffic controller tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

About 200 flights were delayed and more than 40 flights were canceled during the brief halt at Denver International Airport, SimpleFlying.com reports.

The delays and cancellations were caused by the Federal Aviation Administration's cleaning of their facilities at the airport after an air traffic control employee tested positive for the virus.

CBS4 reports that the ground stop lasted from 3:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.

The delay was lifted by 5:45 P.M. when the cleaning was completed.

The employee worked in DIA's Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which oversees approaching and departing traffic from the airport's airspace.

This isn't the first positive COVID-19 test for Denver International Airport. The FAA informed CBS4 that "more than 200 towers, TRACONs and en route centers have had employees with positive COVID cases" and Denver employees have positive test results on October 23, November 22, November 27, and November 30.

"We have had a lot of experience in planning for and responding to COVID-related facility closures so the operational impact is limited whenever they occur now," said FAA spokesperson Allen Kenitzer.

A mother whose son was removed from a plan during the delay alleges that passengers were not initially informed of the situation.

Photo: Getty Images