NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — One of the Tri-State area’s three major airports was forced to temporarily shut down late Thursday as an electric emergency at a Con Edison substation in Queens lit the night sky across much of New York City ablaze and spawned a flurry of social media reaction.

UPDATE: Airport Back To Normal After Dazzling Transformer Explosion Takes Out Power

The NYPD says a transformer exploded at the utility company’s facility in Astoria shortly after 9 p.m.

WATCH: Chopper 2’s Dan Rice Over the Scene in Queens

“It was an explosion like fire, like a ball of fire,” one woman told CBS2’s Jessica Layton. “One boom, and then boom boom boom boom boom!”

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted that LaGuardia Airport was “temporarily closed due to a power outage resulting from the Con Edison explosion.” Mayor Bill de Blasio spokesman Eric Philips added that “scattered” power outages were reported elsewhere.

WATCH: CBS2’s Ali Bauman From LaGuardia Airport

“I was on my phone and then the WiFi goes out and then the entire building goes black and everyone’s crowding around a window and I see this white-blue big ball of light and all of it goes dark,” one woman said.

The airport switched to a backup generator and was fully functional by 11 p.m. with residual delays. Travelers were urged to check with their carriers for the most updated information on flight status.

What we know: – Light was caused by electrical surge at a substation. – No current fire, no injuries. – MTA has power, but there are delays on the 7 train. – Power coming back on at LGA, but expect delays. – Con Ed evaluating outages now. More soon. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 28, 2018

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was largely unaffected, but there were extensive delays along the 7 line.

Flying into Newark and theres a huge green light emanating from upper Manhattan.. ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS IS? 👽 pic.twitter.com/0Cz6hfoA3g — a𐐒Bi (@abbipress) December 28, 2018

People immediately took to social media to post images of the sky across the city illuminated by an eerie blue-green light.

Glow over New York City that lasted a couple minutes, possible large transformer explosion? pic.twitter.com/KPzVlvceGB — Chief Ken Ferrante (@KenFerrante) December 28, 2018

What was the bright blue light and tons of smoke that just lit up the sky? @News12BX @CBSNewYork @ABC7NY @NY1 pic.twitter.com/m1jfNCDVPC — Amanda Oliveira Lima (@MsOliveiraLima) December 28, 2018

@CBSNewYork landing at LaGuardia and the powers out. pic.twitter.com/v5WG1lX8mL — Greg Samms (@RN_Greg) December 28, 2018

The transformer explosion at a #ConEd plant in #Queens is under control and there are no injuries at this time. https://t.co/WlXPG3uo0a — Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) December 28, 2018

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan reported there were no injuries as a result of the substation explosion, which remains under investigation by officials from Con Ed.

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