The main runway at Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, St. James, has been temporarily closed due to “minor damage.”
Another runway has been opened for incoming flights, MBJ Airports Limited, the operator of the facility, said on Sunday evening.
According to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, the runway was closed at around 1:45 p.m. on Sunday after the damage was discovered.
He said seven inbound flights were diverted to Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and there were at least two flight cancellations.
Departures resumed at around 3:20 p.m. and landings were scheduled to resume at around 5:00 p.m.
“The flights that were diverted to Norman Manley Airport continued their journey to Sangster International Airport with the passengers who remained on board during their stopover at (NMIA),” Vaz explained.
He further noted: “We expect the (repair) work on the runway to be completed this evening and normal operations for flights arriving and departing from Montego Bay can resume tomorrow (August 26).”
-Rochelle Clayton
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