Problem at Antigua airport sees flights sent to St Kitts

St Kitts’ Robert L Bradshaw International Airport became an unexpected host for American Airlines and British Airways flights after the sudden closure of Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport.

The planes, which were heading to other destinations after stopping at Antigua, were grounded yesterday afternoon.

Stanley Smith, chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, said the closure occurred after chemical fumes leaked into the control tower.

Delays

He said workers who were on shift had to be evacuated to safety while the tower was flushed to ensure the air was clean.

"We apologised to customers for the delay to their journey after our flight diverted to St Kitts following the closure of the control tower at Antigua Airport," a British Airways spokesman told WIC News.

"The aircraft was refuelled and the flight continued on to Antigua."

According to Antigua’s Observer Media, flights headed for the twin-island nation were diverted to both St Kitts and Puerto Rico.

Operations resumed shortly after 3pm AST but by then a number of LIAT’s flights were already affected, were Virgin Atlantic and BA flights from London.

Two American Airlines flights from Miami and JFK airports were diverted from Antigua and Barbuda.