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Man Accused of Air Traffic Center Fire 'Regrets What He Did,' Attorney Says

By  Erin Meyer and Mauricio Peña | September 29, 2014 12:30pm | Updated on September 29, 2014 3:24pm

 Brian Howard
Brian Howard
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CHICAGO — An FAA contractor accused of setting fire to an air traffic control center in Aurora Friday — stranding thousands of travelers — appeared in court Monday with a huge bandage on his neck after he tried to kill himself, his attorney said.

Brian Howard, 36, of Naperville, was ordered held without bail during an appearance before Judge Michael Mason at the Dirksen Courthouse Monday.

Erin Meyer describes the scene in federal court:

Howard was charged with destruction of the aircraft facilities after Friday's fire at the Federal Aviation Administration's Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center in Aurora.

Howard, who had a bandage taped on either side of his neck, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday.

"We do not believe he poses a danger to the community," attorney Ron Safer told the judge. "We believe he poses a danger to himself."

After the hearing, Safer said his client had tried to kill himself.

"He made a tragic mistake in the course of trying to end his own life," Safer said. "He deeply regrets what he did. He's deeply troubled."

Howard came to the hearing from Mercy Hospital, where he was taken after the incident last week.

Three days after the fire, flights continued to be disrupted at O'Hare and Midway Airports.

On Sunday, 560 flights out of O'Hare were canceled, and another 56 flights canceled out of Midway, said Karen Pride, a spokeswoman of Chicago Department of Aviation.

In a speech given Monday morning FAA spokesman Michael Huerta said it will take two weeks to reopen the Chicago-area control center.

Crew members are working to replace damaged equipment and bring flight activity back to normal, Huerta said.

Operations are expected to be back to normal by Oct. 13, Huerta added.

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