Chaos at Guyana Intl Airport: Massive rain knocks out runway lights, diverting several flights

Guyana: Several transformers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana were damaged because of intense rainfall with thunder and lightning, resulting in the runway lights becoming inoperable. This resulted in the CJIA authorities diverting a number of international flights that were due to land there.

The Ministry of Public Works while reporting the incident that took place on Sunday night said that the Timehri area experienced this intense rainfall which also caused the transformers of Guyana Power and Light Limited to getting severely damaged.

According to the information, the runway is equipped with two independent circuits, each of which can ease aircraft landings. The Ministry, while regretting, said that both the primary as well as alternate circuits were affected.

Meanwhile, the airport staff maintenance team, with the support of GPL, worked to rectify the problem, but as of now, all incoming flights have been diverted to ensure the safety of all.

The reports added that JetBlue Flight 1965 with service from John F Kennedy Airport to CJIA along with American Airlines flights 2557 and 1513 from MIA was diverted.

JetBlue flight 1965 was diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico, while both American Airlines flights were diverted to Bridgetown, Barbados.

An InterCaribbean flight also went back to Barbados while a Skyhigh was diverted to neighbouring island Suriname and two other American Airlines flights were rerouted to Puerto Rico.

The outgoing flights are being affected with the authorities trying hard to put everything back in place.

In addition to this, the Ministry of Public Works also added that many teams from the Guyana Power and Light are currently working in conjunction with maintenance crews of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to troubleshoot and repair the runway circuit that was damaged by heavy thunder and lightning earlier this afternoon.

The teams are progressing efforts in order to ensure the power system for the airport runway is operational, facilitating the safe return and landing of flights.