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Four electrical arc blasts reported during LAX People Mover testing

A project-monitoring report says four September incidents damaged power-rail and guideway components. Los Angeles International Airport says repairs are complete and testing has resumed.

Updated October 22, 2026 • Sources: ABC7 Los Angeles, Infrata project-monitoring report, LAX and LINXS statements

Image credit: RickyCourtney / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; archival 2021 construction photograph, not an image of testing or the reported damage

The long-delayed Automated People Mover at LAX experienced four electrical arc-blast incidents during a September ramp-up for testing, according to a lenders’ monitoring report obtained by ABC7 Los Angeles.

Airport and contractor say the system responded as designed

The report says the cause of the incidents remains unknown. Transportation engineer Tim Borchers told ABC7 that an arc blast is an uncontrolled electrical event and described four such incidents as unusual.

LINXS, the contractor building the train, said the incidents affected only a few feet of power rail, were not related to the power-distribution system and caused no damage to passenger vehicles. The company said there is no defect in the installed electrical system and that the system responded as designed.

An LAX official told ABC7 the contractor repaired the affected components and testing resumed. In a statement, the airport said its priority is ensuring the train is safe and reliable before passenger service begins and that routine testing is intended to identify and correct issues.

The 2.25-mile, $3.3 billion system was originally expected to open in 2023. Its latest public target is early 2027, but the remaining testing and approval process could affect that timeline.

Original reporting: ABC7 Los Angeles — October 22, 2026 →

Project document: LAX Automated People Mover monitoring report →