Illinois fire impacting Eastern Iowa Airport flights

CEDAR RAPIDS - A fire at an air traffic control facility in Aurora, Ill. has impacted The Eastern Iowa Airport.

Those hoping to fly out of the airport Friday are advised to check their flights early and often, an airport official said.

Eastern Iowa Airport marketing and communications director Heather Wilson said that, as of 8 a.m. Friday, five flights out of the airport had been canceled and six were delayed. However, those delays could have a domino effect on other flights if they persist, Wilson warned.

'Once you start those delays early, it steamrolls through the rest of the process,” Wilson said.

All flights into and out of Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports have been grounded following a fire at an air traffic control facility in Aurora, Ill. The facility was evacuated and firefighters were at the facility following the blaze. The Chicago Tribune reported that authorities responding to the fire discovered a man with self-inflicted wounds in the basement of the facility. He was taken to an area hospital.

Wilson said station managers for United and Delta were reporting 'significant impacts” on Friday. Flights to other cities, such as Detroit, are also being impacted.

Flight statuses can be checked at The Eastern Iowa Airport's website (http://www.eiairport.org/). Wilson said even if a flight is listed as delayed, people should still show up for their original departure time. If a delay is cut short and a plane is ready to leave, it will go with or without its passengers, Wilson said.

Those who experience canceled flights need to contact the airline directly, not the airport, Wilson said.

Reuters contributed to this report.