Video Shows Electrical Explosion During LAX People Mover Testing

Electrical Blast on LAX People Mover Track Sparks Scrutiny Amid Years of Delays

Newly obtained video reveals an apparent electrical explosion during testing of the Los Angeles International Airport People Mover, capturing a train moving along the tracks before a large flash obscures the platform, followed by sparks and smoke. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that sources provided the footage, which adds fresh visual evidence of malfunctions as the project faces continued setbacks.

The newly published footage from late September brings renewed attention to the SkyLink project, an all-electric automated train designed to run above the airport on an elevated 2.25-mile route with six stations. While Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) maintains that the transit system is more than 99% complete, the opening date for passengers remains unconfirmed beyond an estimated arrival in early next year.

Arc Flash Incidents Documented During September Testing

Documents previously obtained by ABC7 and provided to lenders on the People Mover project state that three arc blast incidents occurred on Sept. 23, followed by a fourth on Sept. 25. An arc blast, also known as an arc flash or flashover, is a technical term for a type of electrical explosion.

Light-rail and people-mover expert Timothy Borchers reviewed reports of the four flashovers at LAX before examining the video published on October 26 by FOX 11. Borchers expressed severe concern over the size and duration of the event captured on camera.

“This is one of the most severe flashovers I’ve ever witnessed,” Timothy Borchers told FOX 11, adding that his concern centered on how long the flashover continued and its size, and he warned that the problem could lead to a catastrophic electrical incident.

Video Shows Electrical Explosion During LAX People Mover Testing — Photo: nypost.com

Conversely, the project’s contractor, LINXS, offered a different assessment of the hardware. In statements reported by ABC7 and FOX 11, the contractor asserted that there is no defect in the installed electrical system, that no damage occurred to the passenger vehicles, and that the system responded as designed.

LAWA similarly addressed the incidents in an October 23 information sheet, noting that arc flashes are not uncommon during testing phases designed to identify and resolve operational problems. LAWA stated that all repairs related to the blast incidents have been completed and that testing of the People Mover project has resumed.

Billions Over Budget and Tangled in Legal Disputes

The latest electrical malfunctions emerge against a backdrop of steep financial overruns and legal friction. Originally breaking ground in 2019 with a targeted opening date of 2023, the automated train system has faced repeated postponements.

The project’s budget has ballooned from an initial projection of $1.9 billion to $3.34 billion, a figure that includes $1.34 billion in additional city payouts. Furthermore, the contractor LINXS has been involved in a legal dispute with the city over delays, although airport operators maintain that the litigation is handled separately and does not impede ongoing testing.

Spencer Pratt voiced sharp criticism on X following the release of the video, pointing to the combination of soaring costs, schedule slippage, and electrical malfunctions on a system that has yet to transport paying travelers.

Next Steps and Remaining Hurdles Before Passenger Service

System Demonstration Testing has restarted following the completion of required repairs, with trains currently running on a full schedule along the elevated guideway without passengers. However, multiple regulatory and operational milestones still stand between the physical infrastructure and public boarding.

Video reveals apparent electrical explosion during People Mover testing at LAX

The train requires 30 days of testing, an independent review, an assessment by Los Angeles World Airports, and the completion of a utility agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. LINXS noted in a regulatory filing that achievement of the Passenger Service Availability Date could face further delays, with the earliest possible public opening anticipated for January.

Until SkyLink officially opens its doors to travelers, LAX continues to direct passengers to rely on existing shuttles and ground transportation signs to reach airport parking facilities, rental car centers, and the LAX Metro Transit Center.