Dramatic explosion at an electrical plant turns the night sky bright blue and brings NYC to a halt

Explosion at a Con Edison plant turns the NYC night sky bright blue, bringing a stunned Big Apple to a halt as parts of Queens lose power and all flights are grounded at La Guardia airport

  • NYC Fire Wire confirmed that a fire had occurred in the North Queens neighborhood 
  • ‘Investigating a transformer explosion at Astoria East & North Queens Con Ed power plant,’ the NYPD 114th Precint posted. ‘Please avoid 20th Ave & 31 st’
  • The explosion occurred around 9.20pm
  • La Guardia lost power as a result of the explosion and all flights were grounded
  • Airport has since regained power
  • Rikers Island has also had to use backup generators to keep their power running 
  • A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window 

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A transformer explosion at an electric power substation in the New York City borough of Queens lit up the night sky with a bright blue light on Thursday, mystifying some residents, but officials said no one was injured in the incident. 

NYC Fire Wire confirmed that a fire had occurred in the Astoria neighborhood. It was later added that the fire took place on the 20th Avenue side of the Con Edison plant. 

The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries were reported. 

La Guardia lost power as a result of the explosion and all flights were grounded. The airport has since regained power. MTA experienced delays on the 7 line trains.

Rikers Island has also had to use backup generators to keep their power running. 

‘Investigating a transformer explosion at Astoria East & North Queens Con Ed power plant,’ the NYPD 114th Precint said on Twitter. ‘Please avoid 20th Ave & 31 st.’ 

NYC Fire Wire confirmed that a explosion had occurred in the North Queens neighborhood at a Con Edison subplant

The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries have been reported

The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries have been reported

The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries have been reported

The explosion occurred around 9.20pm and no injuries have been reported

The NYPD 114th informed on what was happening with the explosion

The 43rd Precinct had a little fun with the news

The NYPD 114th informed on what was happening with the explosion while the 43rd Precinct had a little fun with the news

NYPD News posted: ‘ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens. The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available. Follow @fdny, @NYPD114pct and @conedison.’ 

Con Ed added that it was working with the NYPD on the matter and would provide updates over time. 

‘The NYPD and the FDNY are on scene at a Con Ed facility in Astoria where an apparent transformer explosion just lit up the sky over the city,’ said Mayor Bill de Blasio. ‘As soon as we have more information, we will share it.’ 

People stand at the gate of a Con Edison facility watching as personnel rush to handle the explosion

People stand at the gate of a Con Edison facility watching as personnel rush to handle the explosion

Viewed from the Upper West Side of Manhattan

Viewed from the Upper West Side of Manhattan

Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison grounds to monitor passersby

Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison grounds to monitor passersby

Law enforcement personnel stand in front of a Con Edison grounds to monitor passersby

Reports soon came in that La Guardia had lost power and that the airport had closed as a result. 

‘Small, blue explosion near LaGuardia has knocked out power at the airport and surrounding area,’ said user Mason Mccoy. ‘Unclear what the cause is.. everything (exiting, boarding, security, etc.) is frozen until they figure it out. #lga’

The user would later update Twitter when the airport had restored its power. 

‘Update: Power has been restored but activity still at a stand still,’ he added. ‘Passengers are able to de-plane via stairs. Looks like departing passengers are being held back until security check points are back up and running.’ 

According to the utility outage map for Con Edison, there were only 76 who were said to have lost power. 

A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window

A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window

A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window

According to the utility outage map for Con Edison, there were only 76 who were said to have lost power

According to the utility outage map for Con Edison, there were only 76 who were said to have lost power

 

Con Ed's tweet

Mayor Bill de Blasio's tweet

Both Con Ed and Mayor Bill de Blasio posted that the fire was being worked on by a joint coalition 

Spectators were mesmerized by the bright flashes of blue that illuminated the cloudy night sky. Folks all the way out in Jersey City reported seeing the flashy lights.

And even the 43rd Precinct of the NYPD couldn’t help but poke fun at the possible alien invasion. 

A man named Nick Riccardo shared a video of the actual explosion as it took place outside his window. 

‘The transformer explosion in Astoria was… right outside my window,’ he said. ‘So bright I couldn’t look directly at it.’

One user said: ‘Anyone else see this blue light in the sky just now in Brooklyn or NYC? #trippystuff #Skyline.’

Karol Markowicz said: ‘Wtf if this insane bright blue light over Brooklyn?!?’  

Spectators were mesmerized by the bright flashes of blue that illuminated the cloudy night sky

Folks all the way out in Jersey City reported seeing the flashy lights

Spectators were mesmerized by the bright flashes of blue that illuminated the cloudy night sky. Folks all the way out in Jersey City reported seeing the flashy lights



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