Antigua flights diverted to St. Kitts after sudden closure

File Photo of St Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International; Airport 

By: E. Williams 

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 6TH 2017 – St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport hosted American and British Airways flights headed for Antigua after the sudden closure of Antigua’s V. C. Bird International Airport Thursday afternoon.

According to Antigua Observer Media flights headed for Antigua were diverted to St. Kitts and Puerto Rico.

Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua & Barbuda Airport Authority Stanley Smith said the closure occurred after chemical fumes leaked into the control tower.

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

Operations resumes shortly after 3 pm. Thursday, but by then, a number of LIAT’s flights were already affected and so were the Virgin Atlantic and British Airways flights from London.

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

Some flights were diverted to St Kitts, while others had to go to San Juan instead.