Fire destroys LIAT section of Antigua airport

ST JOHN’S, Antigua—Two office blocks, an aircraft hangar and an aircraft were destroyed by a fire which swept through LIAT’s section of the VC Bird International Airport on Sunday night. According to a series of advisories issued by the company, the fire started around 10.15 pm on Sunday night and was not reported as being under control until 12 hours later. There were no reports of injury or loss of life. According to Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) reports, residents in the area heard several explosions shortly before 10.30 pm and saw smoke coming from the facility, at the airport’s eastern edge.

 

Explosions were said to have continued to go off throughout the effort by firefighters and tenders from the airport and stations around the island to battle the blaze. According to reports, the destroyed plane was just over 21 years ol—the oldest of three Dash-8s still in LIAT’s flee—and was undergoing a routine maintenance check. LIAT said it was working with the investigative authorities of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) to determine the cause of the fire. While flights were temporarily halted at the height of the blaze, LIAT reported that it was maintaining its operations from the VC Bird International and other regional airports and expected all flights to operate normally. LIAT’s management also requested all employees to report to the company’s headquarters for work as normal.