CLEVELAND -- Airport spokeswoman Jacki Mayo tells Channel 3 News that lightning struck near Cleveland Hopkins Airport just after 1 p.m. Tuesday
Mayo said the lightning hit the Brookpark RTA substation and blew a transformer.
The current went through the electrical wires, leaving a smoke/burning smell that came out the circuits.
At 3:15 p.m, Airport Director Ricky Smith issued a statement:
"At approximately 1:15 p.m. today, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport lost power to the terminal temporarily and briefly, as a result of massive lightning strike that hit an RTA transformer which also caused a transformer at the airport to lose service temporarily."
"For a short time, the backup generators installed last year took over and four minutes later power was restored. Operations at the airport were not disrupted at any point and all airlines and TSA security checkpoints were operating normally. The RTA Red Line from the airport is shut down and RTA will reroute service to the upper roadway."
RTA says that for now buses have replaced trains for the Red Line between the West Park Rapid Station and Hopkins Airport so some time might be added to Tuesday night's commute.
WKYC-TV