Statement on temporary evacuation of air traffic control tower

At about 2:11 p.m. yesterday, the Control Tower at the Grantley Adams International Airport was evacuated because of the detection of an acrid scent.

This triggered an emergency response from the Airport Fire Service and caused a brief disruption at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).

Several flights were delayed including the inbound Virgin Atlantic 77, from Manchester for approximately 14 minutes.

The departures affected were Virgin Atlantic 187R and American Airlines 1089 which departed at 2:22pm and 2:30pm, respectively.

Tower services have resumed following a full assessment yesterday evening by the Airport Engineering Department at GAIA and the Airport Fire Service.

The investigations have pointed to the source of the problem being an air conditioning unit in the Tower.  The matter is being addressed by the Engineering Department.