Durbin To Seek Probe Of Control-Center Sabotage

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he'll seek an investigation into how a contract employee was able to sabotage a regional control center and bring Chicago's two international airports to a halt.

Durbin told The Associated Press on Sunday that he will ask inspectors general at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate whether there was a security breach when the employee entered the building early Friday with a suitcase.
 
Authorities say 36-year-old Brian Howard of Naperville started a fire in the basement telecommunications room of the control center in suburban Aurora and then tried to commit suicide. He faces felony charges.
 
At the height of the travel misery Friday, more than 2,000 flights in and out of the airports were canceled, disrupting travel nationwide.

The Chicago Department of Aviation says 550 flights were canceled Sunday at O'Hare and 50 were canceled at Midway as officials try to resume normal operations.