A damaged fiber-optic connection caused long lines, delayed flights and widespread system failures at Juan Santamaría International Airport yesterday. The disruption began after a truck struck telecommunications equipment near the airport shortly after midday, damaging fiber-optic cables that support several critical systems.
The outage affected airline check-in platforms, flight-plan processing and communications used by air traffic controllers. Airlines were forced to register some passengers manually, creating long lines inside the terminal. Radar communications were also affected for approximately 45 minutes, according to the information reported. Airport personnel continued operating under backup procedures while technicians worked to restore the connection.
By shortly before 8 p.m., airport systems showed at least 14 affected flights. Among them were Air France Flight AF431 to Paris and KLM Flight KL760 to Amsterdam. Passengers described crowded check-in areas and lengthy waits as airline employees processed travelers without their normal online systems. Images from the terminal showed lines stretching through large sections of the departure hall.
Teams from the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) were sent to repair the damaged fiber connection. Four ICE units remained at the site after 7 p.m., while the airport was still experiencing internet problems. The airport had experienced a separate radar-related problem earlier Saturday. Aeris, the company that operates Juan Santamaría, said that initial problem was resolved and that the airport was operating normally before the fiber-optic damage caused a second disruption later in the day.
The airport’s live departure board on Sunday showed most international flights operating on schedule, suggesting that the broader disruption had eased. However, travelers should continue checking directly with their airlines before heading to the airport, particularly if their itinerary was affected Saturday.
It remains unclear how many passengers were delayed or whether any international flights were canceled as a direct result of the outage.
