Chicago ARTCC fire suspect appears in court
Chicago (CNN) -- A contract employee accused of setting a fire at a key Chicago air traffic control center made his first court appearance on Monday. The Friday incident created flight problems that rippled across the nation.
Brian Howard, 36, appeared before a judge in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, where the charge of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities was explained to him, said his attorney, Ron Safer. Police said Friday's blaze was set intentionally by Howard before he apparently attempted to kill himself.
The charge is a felony that could bring a 20-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $250,000. Howard will be detained at the Metropolitan Correction Center in Chicago until his next court appearance, Safer added. Thousands of flights into and out of Chicago's two major airports have been delayed or canceled since Friday's fire.
The situation improved Monday as the volume of traffic in the area increased, the FAA said. As of noon, the traffic at O'Hare International was 80% of the normal number of flights. At Chicago Midway International Airport, the figure was 90%.
The affidavit quoted a Facebook post's of Howard's: "Take a hard look at the mirror, I have. And this is why I am about to take out... and my life... I am sorry. Leaving you with a big mess. Do your best to move on quickly from me please. Feel like I give a shit for the first time in a long time again... but not for too long (haha!) So I'm gonna smoke this blunt and move on, take care everyone."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/29/travel/chicago-ohare-midway-flights-delayed/index.html
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People in the background look very upset. Not sure if that's the jury or his family there? Doesn't say.
He didn't want to be transferred to Hawaii after working there for eight years. It doesn't excuse it, but we don't know what he was about. Probably getting some necessary mental health care now.
What a huge mess.
