UPDATE: Airport reopens after emergency closure

The V C Bird International Airport has reopened after several flights were diverted due to a sudden closure around noon today.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua & Barbuda Airport Authority Stanley Smith says the closure occurred after chemical fumes leaked into the control tower.

The Airport CEO says the workers who were on shift had to be evacuated to safety while the tower was flushed to ensure the air was clean.
Operations resumes shortly after 3 pm. But by them, a number of LIAT’s flights were already affected and so were the Virgin Atlantic and British Airways flights from London.
While, two American Airlines Flights from Miami and JFK airports were diverted from Antigua.
Some flights were diverted to St Kitts, while others had to go to San Juan instead.
There’s no indication yet the number of passengers affected by the delays.