AA flight diverted to Brazil because of bad weather to arrive in Guyana tonight

Some 130 passengers on board an American Airlines (AA) flight that should have landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at 05:00hrs Thursday but instead was diverted to neighboring Brazil, is now expected here tonight.

The Boeing 737-800 was forced to land at the Boa Vista International Airport because of poor visibility of the runway caused by thick fog in and around the Timehri area.

The News Room was reliably informed that the flight, carrying dozens of Guyanese nationals, is now expected at 22:00hrs. Officials of the CJIA and airline representatives could not provide immediate updates on the welfare of the passengers and the status of fuel for the aircraft.

The flight departed from the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York just before midnight on Wednesday and traveled safely to Guyana but could not land.

The aircraft reportedly circled the CJIA several times before the decision was taken to land in Boa Vista.