The flight from Trinidad to Barbados was rescheduled for 4:30 PM, causing a nearly six-hour delay
28 June, 2024
PHOTO: AFP
The South African cricket team's departure for Barbados has been delayed ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 final. The highly anticipated match, featuring unbeaten teams India and South Africa, is set to take place at the renowned Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday morning, June 29.
However, a disruption occurred due to a private aircraft's landing gear failure at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. This incident left the South African cricket team, their families, commentators, match officials, and ICC officials stranded at Trinidad's airport. The airport was temporarily closed for inspections by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Barbados Police Service.
Just as the South African team was about to leave Trinidad following their semi-final victory against Afghanistan, they received news of the runway closure in Bridgetown. Sharleen Brown, Corporate Communication Specialist with GAIA, explained, "It appeared that the landing gear of the private aircraft did not deploy, but it is currently on the runway at GAIA [Grantley Adams International Airport] safely." She confirmed that the three individuals on board, including two passengers and the pilot, were unharmed.
The flight from Trinidad to Barbados was rescheduled for 4:30 PM, causing a nearly six-hour delay. Passengers who had already boarded had to return to the terminal. This incident added to a series of travel disruptions experienced by teams throughout the tournament. For example, Sri Lanka spent an entire night at the airport during their journey from Florida to New York, and Afghanistan faced delays after their last Super Eight match, impacting their semi-final preparations.
Despite these challenges, the T20 World Cup 2024 final will proceed as scheduled on Saturday morning in Barbados, breaking the tradition of Sunday finals.
