In the northern Leeward Islands, V.C. Bird Airport on
Antigua reopened Wednesday following the departure of Category 5 Hurricane Irma,
but Princess Juliana Airport on St. Maarten did not fare as well.
The airport, a major hub for the Leeward Islands, has been
severely damaged. The hurricane ripped through the airport, blowing over safety
fences and battering nearby Maho Beach.
Gusts of 185 mph slammed boarding walkways to the ground and
dumped much sand on the runways, according to a hurricane rescue team surveying
the damage. The check-in area was flooded and walkways damaged.
Besides being the main airport for St. Maarten/St. Martin, Princess
Juliana serves as an international gateway from the U.S. and Europe to smaller
islands in the Caribbean.