Midway Control Tower Closed After Positive Coronavirus Tests

CHICAGO — Extensive delays are expected at Midway International Airport Tuesday evening after multiple Federal Aviation Administration employees were diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

The FAA announced Midway's air traffic control tower was temporarily closed while the agency ensures the environment is safe for technicians and air traffic controllers.

"Earlier today, several technicians at the facility tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," according to an FAA statement. "The airport remains open and operations will continue at a reduced rate until the situation is resolved."

A ground stop was ordered shortly before 4:30 p.m., the tower was evacuated, and flights bound for Midway were diverted, according to journalist Ethan Klapper, who first reported the stoppage.

"The air traffic control system is a resilient system with multiple backups in place," according to the FAA. "This shift is a regular execution of a longstanding contingency plan to ensure continued operation."

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Three FAA technicians tested positive for the virus Tuesday, health officials told NBC News earlier Tuesday. The control tower was cleaned in accordance with CDC guidelines, they said, and there was no immediate effect on operations at the airport for several hours ahead of the reported ground stop.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association issued a statement calling on the FAA to provide coronavirus testing to all aviation safety professionals who work at the Midway Tower.

"We applaud the FAA for taking the important and necessary step in moving air traffic services from MDW Tower to the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility (TRACON, C90) while MDW Tower is disinfected by outside professionals," it said. "Our thoughts are with those who tested positive, as well as their family members. We wish anyone who displays symptoms from the virus a speedy and full recovery."

The airport was expected to operate at reduced capacity until the tower is due to reopen on Friday morning, according to Klapper.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, more than 115 flights had been cancelled at Midway, and arrivals were delayed an average of more than 40 minutes, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.