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The Latest: Atlanta airport struggles to get back to normal

ATLANTA (AP) - The Latest on a power outage at the Atlanta airport (all times local):

9:15 a.m.

Airport operations were resuming Monday morning in Atlanta, a day after a crippling power outage left thousands stranded.

The ticketing and baggage areas were a bit backed up, but security lines were moving quickly. Most travelers were patient as the world's busiest airport recovered from the outage.

Georgia Power said a fire in an underground electrical facility caused a sudden power outage around 1 p.m. Sunday. That brought the airport to a standstill and grounded more than a thousand flights.

The utility thanked people for their patience in a tweet Monday morning and said all essential services were restored and that an investigation into the cause of the outage was ongoing.

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8:20 a.m.

Thick fog blanketed Atlanta on Monday morning and authorities said that could lead to additional flight delays a day after a power outage crippled the world's busiest airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration tweeted that Atlanta was among the airports where weather conditions might lead to air traffic delays Monday.

Georgia Power said a fire in an underground electrical facility caused a sudden power outage around 1 p.m. Sunday. That brought the airport to a standstill and grounded more than a thousand flights, leaving thousands of people stranded.

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7:25 a.m.

A former U.S. transportation secretary was among the travelers stuck on a plane as a power outage paralyzed Atlanta's airport, the world's busiest.

Anthony Foxx, who served under former President Barack Obama, tweeted Sunday that he was stuck on a plane for hours.

"Total and abject failure here at ATL Airport today," he tweeted, adding that there is "no excuse for lack of workable redundant power source. NONE!"

Georgia Power said a fire in an underground electrical facility caused a sudden power outage around 1 p.m. Sunday. That brought the airport to a standstill and grounded more than a thousand flights, leaving thousands of people stranded.

In another tweet, Foxx said the problem was "compounded by confusion and poor communication."

Once he was off the plane, Foxx tweeted that he hoped to rent a car to drive to Charlotte, North Carolina, to catch a flight Monday morning.

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6:50 a.m.

Passengers were being urged Monday morning to check with airlines for flight information as operations resumed in Atlanta following a power outage at the world's busiest airport.

A tweet early Monday from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said airport concessionaires and the security lines are open.

Georgia Power said a fire in an underground electrical facility caused a sudden power outage around 1 p.m. Sunday. That brought the airport to a standstill and grounded more than a thousand flights, leaving thousands of people stranded.

Power was restored around midnight.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is the hardest hit airline. In a tweet, the airline urged travelers to use its mobile app or website for booking assistance and updated flight status. Delta was also allowing people traveling to, from or through Atlanta through Tuesday to make a one-time change for no fee.

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4:10 a.m.

While power has been restored to the world's busiest airport in Atlanta, the travel woes will linger for days.

Thousands of people are stranded Monday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush.

A sudden power outage caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility brought the airport to a standstill Sunday about 1 p.m.

Delta, with its biggest hub operation in Atlanta, will be hardest hit.

Robert Mann, an aviation consultant and former American Airlines executive, said it likely will be Tuesday before Delta's operations return to normal, and for passengers "it could be most of the week" because there aren't many open seats on other flights in the last week before Christmas.

Passengers rest behind the ticket counter after the lights went out at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
A passenger sits behind the ticket counter after the lights went out at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
A traveler waits in dark at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
Passengers sit around a generator taking turns charging their phones at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
A traveler sleeps on a baggage carousel at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
Passengers wait after the lights went out at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
Passengers wait after the lights went out at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Associated Press
A MARTA train southbound on the Airport line to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was filled with both commuters and travelers Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 . Many of the passengers said that they had been affected by Sunday's power outage and hoped to get out today. Ribitha Shetty, who was trying to get home to Pittsburgh, said she was stuck on the tarmac for five hours Sunday and was thankful that MARTA was still running because all of the airport hotels were booked. (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) The Associated Press
This photo taken Sunday, Dec.17, 2017 and provided by Georgia Power shows damaged power cables after after a fire that caused a power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Hundreds of flights were canceled and long lines snaked throughout the world's largest airport Monday as the nation's air-travel system struggled to get back on schedule after a crippling power outage. The Associated Press
In this Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 photo provided by Georgia Power, Georgia Power teams work to replace damaged power cables after a fire that caused a power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Hundreds of flights were canceled and long lines snaked throughout the world's largest airport Monday as the nation's air-travel system struggled to get back on schedule after a crippling power outage. The Associated Press
Travelers move through a security check-in line at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
A Christmas tree decorates the atrium where travelers gather while waiting for their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
A flight board displays cancelled flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Unclaimed bags sit in baggage claim at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Delta employee Rod Warrick, left, passes out sandwiches to travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Travelers wait to check in for for flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. While power was restored to the world's busiest airport early Monday, the travel woes will linger for days for the thousands of people stranded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Passengers make their way past long lines at a ticket counter at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Atlanta. Power has been restored at the airport after a Sunday blackout caused by a fire stranded thousands of passengers and grounded at least 1,500 flights. (AP Photo John Amis) The Associated Press
A woman waits for an agent at the ticket counter at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Atlanta. Power has been restored at the airport after a Sunday blackout caused by a fire stranded thousands of passengers and grounded at least 1,500 flights. (AP Photo John Amis) The Associated Press
A man sleeps on the terminal floor at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Atlanta. Power has been restored at the airport after a Sunday blackout caused by a fire stranded thousands of passengers and grounded at least 1,500 flights. (AP Photo John Amis) The Associated Press
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