Hundreds of passengers bound for Trinidad and Tobago via Barbados are currently on a forced layover on the island, after faulty runway edge light circuits led to the shutdown of the Grantly Adams International Airport.
Reports state that at least three flights from Barbados to TT on Tuesday night were cancelled.
The three flights were Caribbean Airlines’ BW 400 which was due to leave Barbados at 8.40 pm, KLM’s KL781 which was due to leave Barbados at 9.05 pm and Caribbean Airlines’ BW417 which was due to leave Barbados at 9.30 pm.
Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill said the problem occurred around 5.40 pm and that the electrical team at the airport was assessing the situation to see where the fault occurred.
The Minister added that as a consequence, the Civil Aviation Department issued what is known as a ‘notice to airmen’ to alert the airlines and air operators of the issue and advise them of the runway closure.
He said teams at the airport were able to work quickly to facilitate the departures of Air Canada’s AC 963 and British Airways BA 254 which both left safely.
A total of 11 outgoing and incoming flights were affected by the closure which is scheduled to continue until 6.06 am Wednesday.
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