Electronic sign catches fire, closes Aspen airport runway

A landing availability sign that caught fire Tuesday evening caused the closure of the Aspen Airport runway.

The sign, usually lit “X” to indicate to pilots when the runway is available, caused significant damage to the old roadway at the south end of the runway. The resulting damage compromised a 20×20 foot section of the runway, which is rapidly deteriorating.

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Director Dan Bartholomew said the cause of the sign fire is currently unknown.

“It’s a new sign and we’re a little confused ourselves,” he said. “So we’re trying to figure that out.”

The fire caused the runway to be closed for arrivals on Wednesday at 11 a.m. This also resulted in a closure of departures, effective 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“The Airport Operations team is working diligently to begin repairs immediately. However, depending on the availability of materials and the time required for the asphalt to harden, the runway could remain closed for several days,” the airport reported in an alert Wednesday. “Throughout the day, the track will be constantly monitored to ensure safety and assess the extent of the damage. Currently, the airport is expected to reopen Friday morning. Travelers are encouraged to contact their carrier directly for more information regarding their flight schedules.

“ASE is actively communicating with the FAA, Fixed Base Operator (FBO), airline partners, and other airport tenants and personnel to effectively manage this situation. Updates will be provided via social media,” the alert further states.

Bill Tomcich, a consultant for Fly Aspen Snowmass Airline, said the runway closure comes as Wednesday was forecast to be the busiest air traffic day of the summer for the Aspen airport. On Wednesday, 24 flights from three major airlines were scheduled.

According to Tomcich, some Aspen-bound flights on Wednesday were forced to return to their original departure locations.

“This is the most thefts Aspen has seen in the summer months,” he said. “I would like to have an impact here comparable to what a major snowstorm would have that shuts down the airport for a day and a half, except we have really good weather today.”

According to Bartholomew, however, the airport is confident the runway will reopen by Friday morning.

“A crew will come with materials first thing tomorrow morning, and we need time for the asphalt to harden,” he said.

Bartholomew said passengers are advised to contact their carriers for updates if further delays occur.