A sudden and unforeseen power outage struck Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on March 12, 2023, causing widespread disruptions to flight operations, check-in services, and security systems. The incident, which occurred at approximately 12:00 PM, plunged the airport’s Terminal 2 into darkness, leaving numerous passengers stranded and confused.
According to reports, the power outage affected various systems within the airport, including check-in and baggage screening machines, leading to long queues and delays. The outage also impacted multiple floors of the terminal building, as well as the airport’s parking lot. Passengers in Terminal 2 were forced to navigate through darkened passageways, raising concerns about safety and security measures.
Although the airport’s staff worked diligently to resolve the issue, it took around 1 hour and 13 minutes for power to be fully restored. Initially, backup generators kicked in about 15 minutes after the outage, but some areas of the terminal remained without power until 1:13 PM. The airport’s operations were eventually able to recover, but not before several flights were delayed and schedules were altered.
Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s largest airport and a major transportation hub, acknowledged that the incident had a significant impact on flights, resulting in changes to flight schedules due to the temporary suspension of check-in and baggage screening processes. The outage also affected various areas of the airport, including the parking lot.
Fortunately, there were no reports of serious damage or accidents resulting from the power outage. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident, which remains unclear. It is still unknown whether the outage was due to technical issues, electrical system failures, or other factors. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are working to determine the root cause of the disruption to prevent similar incidents in the future.