Flights at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports are resuming at a reduced rate.

But the pain is being felt by air travelers nationwide.

More than a thousand flights were cancelled at the two major airports after police say a disgruntled employee trying to commit suicide intentionally lit a fire at an air traffic control facility nearby.

SOUNDBITE: AURORA POLICE CHIEF GREG THOMAS, SAYING:

"There is no terrorist act... This is a local issue with a contract employee and nothing else."

At Midway, long lines inside the airport stretched all the way out to the curb.

The same frustrations playing out at O'Hare, one of the world's busiest airports.

SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED AIR TRAVELER, SAYING:

"I hope we get home... Everything is red, you know? It's everything."

Thousands of passengers now scrambling to find alternate plans in what is turning into a stressful weekend to travel.