The Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas was reopened shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday after a temporary closure due to an aircraft incident. A Beechcraft Baron N5713V, which had landed safely earlier in the day, experienced an electrical failure while taxiing off, causing the plane to collapse.
According to the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA), the airport was shut down around 12:30 p.m. as crews worked to move the aircraft from the taxiway. VIPA spokesperson Monifa Marrero-Brathwaite confirmed that the three people on board, including the pilot, were unharmed.
During the closure, incoming flights were diverted to Puerto Rico, and flights in between St. Thomas and St. Croix were also delayed. However, the airport resumed operations after the aircraft was safely removed from the area, Marrero-Brathwaite said.
