Bahamas News
12-30-04, - 10:02 PM
Gas Fumes Close Airport
Royanne Forbes
The Bahama Journal
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/images/news/airport-sitdown.jpg
Hundreds of travellers were delayed for several hours yesterday after gas fumes in a section of the Nassau International Airport caused an immediate evacuation. (Photo by Omar Barr)
International flights were delayed for more than four hours on Wednesday after gas fumes spread through the U.S. Departure Terminal at Nassau International Airport.
Airport Authority officials were forced to call the emergency evacuation shortly after 8am, which resulted in many passengers missing their connecting flights to final destinations.
General Manager of the Airport Authority, Idris Reid, feared the zone was potentially dangerous for hundreds of travelers who were asked to leave the area immediately.
“The closure was brought about because an odor was detected in the building and we were concerned that it may have been toxic,” he said.
“Our own engineers checked all of the systems as well with the assistance of staff from the [Bahamas Environment Science and Technology] Commission and the Ministry of Works. We did air quality tests to check the oxygen levels and also to check the toxicity level. Happily, we found that there was no toxicity and we have discovered that the source of the odor probably came from outside of the building.”
Officers of The Royal Bahamas Police Force Bomb Unit and fire fighters dressed in oxygen suits used a large fan to rid the terminal of the fumes.
After hours of long waiting, Bahamasair and American Airlines began to check in passengers from the domestic section of the airport.
According to Dencil Gaitor, one of the airport’s security guards, a Bahamasair ticket agent collapsed and was rushed to hospital by ambulance as a result of the odor.
Many passengers did not complain despite the long wait.
Pauline Head, a visitor from Ohio, said she felt that officials were doing a fine job because they put passengers’ safety first.
“The wait was long, but I think they are doing a good job,” Mrs. Head said.
Four travelers, who missed their connecting flight from Atlanta to Chicago via Continental, said they were trying to return home to attend a relative’s funeral.
Dianne Pugley said, “I hope they get this situation sorted out because we really need to get home to be with our family.My husband’s mother died recently and is being buried this Friday.”
Hundreds of passengers were forced to wait outside the main airport building during the ordeal. Many of them spent the time lying around in the grass on top of luggage. Some read, others used the opportunity to meet other travelers.
Many others, mainly those traveling with children, took taxis and left the airport.
Some travelers inquired from reporters whether this was a normal occurrence in The Bahamas.
At one point, it started to rain as the passengers waited outside and even though they were told to stay away from the terminal, many of them huddled under an outdoor shelter at the facility.
Passengers who were on incoming flights were also delayed as they were prevented from disembarking right away.
Airport officials initially appeared reluctant to release any details on the incident, saying that they wanted to first assess the situation.
The fumes could not be smelt from outside.
Mr. Reid said further investigations into the cause of the problem will continue.
“We are now looking further into it to determine what the situation is precisely.But we believe it was related to a gas-testing canister, which may have been used at the property this morning,” he said.
Royanne Forbes
The Bahama Journal
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/images/news/airport-sitdown.jpg
Hundreds of travellers were delayed for several hours yesterday after gas fumes in a section of the Nassau International Airport caused an immediate evacuation. (Photo by Omar Barr)
International flights were delayed for more than four hours on Wednesday after gas fumes spread through the U.S. Departure Terminal at Nassau International Airport.
Airport Authority officials were forced to call the emergency evacuation shortly after 8am, which resulted in many passengers missing their connecting flights to final destinations.
General Manager of the Airport Authority, Idris Reid, feared the zone was potentially dangerous for hundreds of travelers who were asked to leave the area immediately.
“The closure was brought about because an odor was detected in the building and we were concerned that it may have been toxic,” he said.
“Our own engineers checked all of the systems as well with the assistance of staff from the [Bahamas Environment Science and Technology] Commission and the Ministry of Works. We did air quality tests to check the oxygen levels and also to check the toxicity level. Happily, we found that there was no toxicity and we have discovered that the source of the odor probably came from outside of the building.”
Officers of The Royal Bahamas Police Force Bomb Unit and fire fighters dressed in oxygen suits used a large fan to rid the terminal of the fumes.
After hours of long waiting, Bahamasair and American Airlines began to check in passengers from the domestic section of the airport.
According to Dencil Gaitor, one of the airport’s security guards, a Bahamasair ticket agent collapsed and was rushed to hospital by ambulance as a result of the odor.
Many passengers did not complain despite the long wait.
Pauline Head, a visitor from Ohio, said she felt that officials were doing a fine job because they put passengers’ safety first.
“The wait was long, but I think they are doing a good job,” Mrs. Head said.
Four travelers, who missed their connecting flight from Atlanta to Chicago via Continental, said they were trying to return home to attend a relative’s funeral.
Dianne Pugley said, “I hope they get this situation sorted out because we really need to get home to be with our family.My husband’s mother died recently and is being buried this Friday.”
Hundreds of passengers were forced to wait outside the main airport building during the ordeal. Many of them spent the time lying around in the grass on top of luggage. Some read, others used the opportunity to meet other travelers.
Many others, mainly those traveling with children, took taxis and left the airport.
Some travelers inquired from reporters whether this was a normal occurrence in The Bahamas.
At one point, it started to rain as the passengers waited outside and even though they were told to stay away from the terminal, many of them huddled under an outdoor shelter at the facility.
Passengers who were on incoming flights were also delayed as they were prevented from disembarking right away.
Airport officials initially appeared reluctant to release any details on the incident, saying that they wanted to first assess the situation.
The fumes could not be smelt from outside.
Mr. Reid said further investigations into the cause of the problem will continue.
“We are now looking further into it to determine what the situation is precisely.But we believe it was related to a gas-testing canister, which may have been used at the property this morning,” he said.