By Bakary Ceesay
The Banjul International Airport yesterday closed for business all incoming flight to the Gambia were diverted to Dakar while others were also cancelled, official sources confirmed.
Sources said the cancellation and diverting of flight is at a result of after a Polish aircraft broke down on the runway.
Airport sources said Enter Air flight bound for the U.K. had its tyres busted on the runway just before take-off, forcing the authorities to shut down the runway.
Airport sources told The Voice newspaper that due to the problem, the airport authorities cancelled all flights coming to The Gambia for further notice.
Meanwhile, at an emergency press conference yesterday, Ahmad Mai Fatty, presidential adviser on governance and policy told journalists that the problem is expected to be solved and the Airport will be open for business within 48 hours.
On Tuesday, President Adama Barrow instituted an Emergency Strategic Committee to clean up dumpsites and landfills within close proximity of the Banjul International Airport in order to reduce the risks of bird strikes- a collision between birds and aircraft.
The Committee is tasked with the mandate to sensitize neighboring settlements and private waste collectors on the dangers of illegal waste dumping and its ramification for our aviation industry.
The President took the decision at a meeting of Airport Security Stakeholders amidst growing concern over aviation safety and security due to bird strikes at the Banjul International Airport. Airline operators, local government authorities, service chiefs, hoteliers, environment agency officials, among others, attended the meeting at the State House.