This is a recording of the initial call to 911 made from the Federal Aviation Administration’s air-traffic control facility in Aurora on Friday morning.
A fire at the facility that day took down the local air-traffic control system, grounding all planes at both Chicago airports and leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights.
While most service has resumed, the damage to the Aurora facility was extensive and ripple effects continue to be felt. The Aurora facility is not expected to be up and running again until Oct. 13. In the meantime, air-traffic control is being handled by other sites in the Midwest.
Brian Howard, 36, of Naperville, who worked for a federal contractor, is accused of setting the fire in the basement and then trying to kill himself.
