It’s still to be determined what caused the smell at the Grantley Adams International Airport that led to passengers and most staff being evacuated.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday April 7, 2011 – The origin of a strong gas odor that forced hundreds of passengers and most of the staff at the Grantley Adams International Airport to be evacuated from the building has still not been determined.
Even after the airport’s management, officials from the Barbados Fire Service, the National Petroleum Corporation and the Department of Emergency Management did checks throughout the building, the source could not be found and investigations are therefore continuing.
The incident occurred yesterday about 3:30 pm when it was reported that there was a strong smell of gas in the arrival and departure areas.
Some people reported feeling chest pains and shortness of brief and had to be taken to hospital.
Passengers and staff were instructed to assemble in the airport’s car park, as the area was cordoned off and an assessment of the situation was conducted. Security personnel, however, remained at their stations, according to the airport’s Corporate Communications Specialist Keith Goddard.
Goddard said the airport had an evacuation plan, but said there had been no need to use it.
“The Barbados Fire Service had not declared that the airport was unsafe to operate and therefore there was no official evacuation,” he said.
About two and a half hours after the suspected leak was reported, the all-clear was given and passengers and staff went back into the airport.
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