UPDATE: TB Lettsome Airport reopens after abrupt closure
The Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island has now reopened following an abrupt closure hours ago.
The closure caused a number flight delays — one of which was to an American Airlines (AA) commercial flight from Miami to Beef Island. That flight had to be diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where passengers were subject to an unanticipated layover.
Those AA passengers have now departed San Juan for Beef Island.
Up to publication time, our news centre did not see any public statement from the BVI Airports Authority about closure.
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORY
Information reaching BVI News is that the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island has been closed indefinitely.
It is not immediately clear how long the airport will be closed or the reason behind the closure of the territory’s main airport facility.
Checks with Flight Aware’s website just after 1 pm on Monday, July 17, showed that ENVY flight 3989, operated by Envoy and a subsidiary of American Airlines (AA), was forced to circle on its approach to the Beef Island based-airport. The flight has since been diverted to San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Direct flights between Miami and Tortola facilitated by American Airlines began on June 1.
A source with one of the airlines based at the airport confirmed that the facility has been closed, but said they were unable to disclose any reasons for the closure at this time.
This is the third time in recent weeks that the airport has been closed abruptly, bringing the airport’s ability to successfully manage the recently acquired AA flights into question. Just last month, the airport was closed after suffering a cargo plane mishap on one of its runways.
Days before that closure, Communications and Works Minister, Kye Rymer, dismissed claims made in some sections of the media that workers at the TB Lettsome Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower went on strike when another closure occurred.
Attempts to reach BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA) officials about the official reason and expected time for the closure proved futile up to press time.
BVI News will bring more updates on this breaking news story as it becomes available.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The Key Stone Fireman are striking!
Throwing party for sh## you haven’t even accomplished yet AND still can’t execute?!!
Very poor
This government will not last if they do not do the just and rightful thing.
You do NOT turn your backs on the people who help you to get in power.
Deal right or you will take a flight to a dissolved government, coupdetat, or a rise up from the people.
It is that simple.
You continue to play deaf to the cry of the people. You must listen when those who vote for you speak to you.
You continue to treat your people bad, you will pay.
I bet my last dollar, this will be his last term.
I was going to say ‘that is all’, but no- that is not all:
WE can identify all we want as VIslanders or Maroons or whatever, but our identity does NOT give us the right to stop functioning; to stop paying a living wage and prevent hardworking people from supporting their families so our politicians can line their pockets.
No one is reporting about the hospital, where low wage nurses are leaving in droves and drugs – even pain killing drugs- are unavailable to patients.
what is WRONG with us?
Why? Let me guess, there was a small fire over the weekend? God forbid you actually had to do something, so now you want more money?
Do you know how bad you make the BVI look? Do you know how many vacations you have ruined? You think those people will ever try and come back to the BVI, probably not. What about the people (locals) that wanted to fly out today. People that have saved hard earned money to take a vacation to see friends or visit a sick family member. Did you even think about what the repercussion of this would be or were you just thinking about your pockets as usual.
Do you think American Airlines will keep flying here if we keep re-routing their flights because we can’t keep a small, simple airport open.
There are ways to get your wants and needs across without tarnishing the BVI’s name, but you chose to do this. SK*#TS
This country in trouble
WILL THE MILLION DOLLAR MINISTER HIT US WITH ANOTHER SET OF LIES?
WE NEED THAT VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE NOW
Messing up the vacations of people who have paid to come here is not the answer.
Yes the firemen should be paid but ruining out tourist product is not the answer.
Stop giving what if scenarios.
There was always going to be collateral damage.
I dont give a rats A$$ who say negatively about people fighting for better because the powers that be cash in and heavily to and ppl living hand to mouth.
Let those that have their vacations interrupted ask the authority what they gonna do to fix it. If it not going to better then so be it. let it crumble.
swim ya a$$ if u have to
Politicians need to stop playing. People are not joking.
Thats it right there! What did the Non Stop Cost and how much money did the Tourist Board make that night? They had the bars and were charging for VIP. Where is the accountability??!!
More than the firemen should strike if you ask me. People are here suffering year in, year out but we must care about making the government look good??!!
Fix the Country! Not only your families and cronies.
By shutting down operations they’re literally reducing the monies available to get paid their increases.
Any timeline for resolution? I am trying to fly out today & trying to figure out options?
Any time line for resolution? I was supposed to fly out today & trying to figure out my options
We won’t have flights from the US for long at this rate.
Them throwing quarter million dollar jam to celebrate American airlines and cant keep the airport open smh
We need to join the US. This would not happen if we were a part of the US.
Sorry BVI. AA flights will return someday in the future when a private company manages your only airport for our planes – Good Luck – AA
Meanwhile in the news island wide power cut and young minister caught up in family theft and abuse of public funds. Stay tune for more bvi love news.
This is not the way to handle this situation. Violent crime on the rise. Government making bad decisions now civil servants affecting the tourism product. This issue is bigger than a few individuals. Once it starts to affect our reputation as a tourism product then the negative affect trumps what issue a few workers may have.
@ What
What do you see as the answer….sitting and talking, waiting?
The whole purpose of a strike (if this was one) is to cause disruption so persons in charge take you seriously.
Yes it probably disrupted a vacation but for all we know the disgruntled persons probably never even had the opportunity to take a vacation.
If I ever were to go on strike, it would not be during my lunch hour.
I was a passenger at the airport today and it was a mess. I for sure support those who are fighting for better wages and the people of the BVI but I can tell you it put a lot of people trying to get home after flight cancelations elsewhere through a lot of stress. I don’t hold any ill will towards the BVI and it’s people but I really hope all this can be solved without abrupt airport shutdowns.
I don’t have a dollar to bet cause my name aint 0n the list but I know he can’t even do this term.liar liar your pants on fire boi cant lead.
Then what do you advise? Our votes did nothing- those we re elected, who were keeping their noses clean during the coalition period are back to their old tricks and not a single promise has been kept.
We need a territory wide strike in support of civil service workers; medical, police fire and teachers. WE should get a say how our money is spent…and not on some dang concert.
So u think them aint tired talk and not one shit has been done… tell that to the government.. people sick and tired only so they does listen why the govt have to wait on this to do whay they have to do.. when injustice pervails human disobedience is justifiable!! Blame the givnt im sure they talk a million times before action..
AN HONEST MISTAKE AGAIN , AND ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL ( THE OPPOSITION HAD IT IN THEIR HANDS , AND ALL BECAUSE POWER HUNGRY INDIVIDUALS , WE HAVE BECOME THE WILD KINGDOM / TWO FACED SNAKES , LIONS , CROCODILES , PIRANHAS , ETC THAT LOOKS LIKE HUMAN BEINGS ( NO OFFENCE ) BUT THE MENTALITY SHOWS , THAT THERE’S NO REAL UNITY AMONGST THEMSELVES / THOSE ANIMALS I MENTIONED , ARE ALL PREDATORS , SO IT AIN’T MY FAULT IF YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED , HOW CAN YOU SEE THE GAMES THAT IS BEING PLAYED ON THE PEOPLE
The Uk needs to step and manage the BVI until it can find some decent persons to become politicians and get a functioning successful government together and if that means non belongers then so be it .
When are we going to get our Increment?