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Georgia Power announced early Monday that power is fully restored to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world's busiest airport. More than 1,000 flights were ground on Sunday, stranding many passengers in planes and dark terminals. (Dec. 18)

Media: Associated Press

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

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."

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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Long lines form at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a power outage, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Passengers wait for the lights to come back on at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday afternoon. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Passengers wait for the lights to come back on at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Fanny Suarez, left, waits in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Isabelle Jacobs waits for her flight to New York in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday afternoon. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Passengers wait in a dark terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Atlanta. A sudden power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday grounded scores of flights and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) less

Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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Photo: Steve Schaefer, AP

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FILE- This May 9, 2016, file photo, shows an air traffic control tower at their gates at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Authorities say a power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has disrupted ingoing and outgoing flights. Airport spokesman Reese McCraine says the outage occurred early Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. He says all airport operations are being affected and that outgoing flights were halted. less

Photo: Mike Stewart, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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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. less

Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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Photo: Branden Camp, AP

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.

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.

The Latest: Ex-transportation secretary stuck on plane

Updated 7:29 am, Monday, December 18, 2017