An Amerijet Boeing 767 cargo aircraft remains grounded at VC Bird International Airport after engineers identified mechanical issues following its emergency landing on Thursday morning.
The aircraft, which had been en route from Miami to St. Maarten, was forced to divert to Antigua due to a flat tire issue. However, after a successful emergency landing, an attempt to depart later that afternoon had to be aborted when further mechanical problems emerged.
Joseph Samuel, Director of Operations and Acting CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, confirmed that local engineers assessed the aircraft and found issues with one of its engines. As a precautionary measure, the plane was grounded for further evaluation and corrective maintenance.
In response to the situation, Amerijet has arranged for another aircraft to arrive in Antigua to transport the cargo originally intended for St. Maarten. Airport authorities continue to work with the airline’s technical team to determine the extent of the mechanical failure and the necessary repairs before the aircraft can be cleared for departure.
