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The United States Transport Security Administration (TSA) has placed a 72 hour halt on air cargo to and from Jamaica.
The suspension took immediate effect Sunday night.
It was imposed after the US authorities received what they termed a credible threat that an explosive device could be placed on a flight from the country.
Jamaica's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been advised of the emergency measure.
An Air Jamaica plane was delayed Sunday night at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida as a precaution ahead of the implementation of the three day suspension of cargo on flights.
The plane was preparing for a return trip to Jamaica.
Colonel Oscar Darby, Director-General of the CAA, outlined to RJR News Sunday night the series of events which led to the imposition of the security measure.
"We had a report sometime (Sunday) of a threat which was not corroborated. It seems the US has analyzed the threat and they think there’s a credible threat of somebody placing an incendiary device in cargo, so they will be suspending cargo in and out of Jamaica for the next 72 hours until they (put) appropriate measures in place," said Colonel Darby.
Three day suspension will have huge impact on export – JEA
And the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) is expressing alarm at the three day suspension of air cargo between Jamaica and the US.
According to Vitus Evans, JEA President, it will have a severe impact on its members who have clients in the United States.
"Our members move quite a bit of their produce by air into the US and that will have a major impact on the exports from Jamaica," he said.
The suspension took immediate effect Sunday night.
It was imposed after the US authorities received what they termed a credible threat that an explosive device could be placed on a flight from the country.
Jamaica's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been advised of the emergency measure.
An Air Jamaica plane was delayed Sunday night at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida as a precaution ahead of the implementation of the three day suspension of cargo on flights.
The plane was preparing for a return trip to Jamaica.
Colonel Oscar Darby, Director-General of the CAA, outlined to RJR News Sunday night the series of events which led to the imposition of the security measure.
"We had a report sometime (Sunday) of a threat which was not corroborated. It seems the US has analyzed the threat and they think there’s a credible threat of somebody placing an incendiary device in cargo, so they will be suspending cargo in and out of Jamaica for the next 72 hours until they (put) appropriate measures in place," said Colonel Darby.
Three day suspension will have huge impact on export – JEA
And the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) is expressing alarm at the three day suspension of air cargo between Jamaica and the US.
According to Vitus Evans, JEA President, it will have a severe impact on its members who have clients in the United States.
"Our members move quite a bit of their produce by air into the US and that will have a major impact on the exports from Jamaica," he said.
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