Following Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series season-finale at Phoenix Raceway, multiple industry members have been stuck at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport after a piece of electrical equipment failed, triggering power outages at the airport’s two terminals.
Between Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, more than 150 flights departing the airport had been affected by Monday Afternoon, with 90 flights delayed, and at least 60 completely canceled.
There was one APS worker injured from the equipment failure, but the injuries were not life-threatening.
Mamba Smith was at the track for NASCAR’s Championship Weekend and documented the situation from his point of view. In the first of a series of Tweets, Smith mentioned the large volume of people waiting for service at the terminal, citing that passengers weren’t able to check-in or go through TSA and that all flights at that point had been grounded.
Unreal situation at the Phoenix Airport. I hope the people in the in the accident are ok. ?? pic.twitter.com/do4qHpvBC1
— Mamba Smith (@MambaSmith34) November 8, 2021
At 1:30 pm ET (10:30 am local), Smith provided an update saying that although he’d gotten into the terminal, he missed his flight by “about five or ten minutes,” adding that everyone has been pretty cool about the situation, humorously adding in that he’d “only been yelled at once.”
Smith added into his Tweet, that he had no idea where his bags were.
Just missed my flight… The line is literally the length of the building and there's 5+ of them like that.
Also don't know where my bags are. https://t.co/dbjSPujsE1 pic.twitter.com/bULgGcDNTQ
— Mamba Smith (@MambaSmith34) November 8, 2021
At ~6:00 pm ET (3:00 pm Local), Smith provided the third update, while in transit to board another flight to Charlotte – even though had to go to Miami — adding that he still didn’t know where his bags were, and would be boarding the flight without them.
UPDATE!!! pic.twitter.com/9Y3fxbtNHF
— Mamba Smith (@MambaSmith34) November 8, 2021
Approximately 15 minutes later, Smith posted another update saying that he’d gotten a ticket for another flight that was heading to Miami, not Charlotte, as was the original plan, saying that he’d ultimately be making the trip tonight.
We did… We're guna make it tonight. #GDTBA https://t.co/2qVSGSFov0 pic.twitter.com/BM1aoklT5F
— Mamba Smith (@MambaSmith34) November 8, 2021
Smith wasn’t the only one trapped in Phoenix well into Monday Afternoon, as others, such as Daniel McFadin of Frontstretch, and Dave Moody of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, also posted their perspective.
When I got to the Phoenix airport today this was the scene after a power outage. I had checked in on my phone and didn’t check my luggage.
While others waited 3-4 hours to Check in, I got to my gate faster than I ever have.
Bizarre. pic.twitter.com/mPN6IDQ5j4
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) November 8, 2021
Let’s. Go. Home. pic.twitter.com/9t8UzXImhl
— Dave Moody (@DGodfatherMoody) November 8, 2021
Noah Lewis, Peter Strata, and Claire B. Lang were also affected by the outage. Lang was able to find another flight home, while Lewis and Strata weren’t necessarily as lucky.
I am in the midst of chaos st the airport Sky Harbor the transformer issue…No one knows what is going on….I should call @DennyHamlin …He says he likes chaos. I want to go home ? pic.twitter.com/FAa7C52dQm
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) November 8, 2021
Wasn’t expecting to be on local @abc15 Phoenix news this weekend but it will always be a story attached to the 2021 Championship for me lol. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/QAwRbqVlBJ
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) November 8, 2021
So….another day in Phoenix for me.
Flight canceled as half the airport was without power. Insanity there.
Back to a hotel!
Ran into @ClaireBLang who I’m hoping can still make her flight! The second is her picture of the craziness.
?#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/LYxb8VZuAN
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) November 8, 2021
