St Helena: Only airport on remote British overseas island closed over safety fears

Flights to and from St Helena, a remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, have been suspended due to safety issues at the island’s only airport. Following an inspection, local authorities identified that the airport’s fire engines did not meet international safety standards, prompting them to declare a major incident and halt all passenger flight operations. Although some small aircraft, such as those used for medical emergencies, are still allowed to land and take off, regular commercial flights will remain suspended until at least 20 February.

Situated approximately 1,200 miles off the southwest coast of Africa, St Helena is home to around 4,000 residents and relies heavily on its airport for connectivity. The UK government has been notified of the situation and has dispatched a specialist team to St Helena to address the problem and work towards reopening the facility. Until then, residents and visitors face significant challenges, as sea travel to and from the island requires several days, and those stranded incur extra expenses for food and lodging.

The airport, which was funded by the UK and opened in 2016, has experienced ongoing difficulties. A parliamentary review conducted shortly after its opening criticized the project, stating that British taxpayers had been “unquestionably failed” by the £285 million development. Speaking at a press briefing, the island’s governor, Nigel Phillips, explained, “The airport fire engines have each developed faults. This degrades the level of fire cover that can be provided,” adding that “there was insufficient fire suppressant that could be put onto an aircraft if needed.”

The extended closure has left many travelers uncertain and facing unexpected costs. One visitor, Hugh from Gloucestershire, who arrived on the island with his girlfriend for a family visit, expressed his concerns about the delay, saying, “We can’t make alternative bookings as we don’t know when the airport will reopen.” Additional costs, including expensive new flights and extended insurance, have added to his stress. Similarly, Cheryl Tingler from Florida, who planned to bring her late father’s ashes back to St Helena, was caught off guard by the closure just as she arrived in Cape Town, their stopover point. Local authorities have advised affected passengers to contact their airlines and travel insurers while they work to resolve the fire safety issues

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