An Air Canada charted flight arrived in Turks and Caicos yesterday with 95 electricians “s part of a humanitarian aid mission” to rebuild the electrical grid on the islands after Hurricane Irma hit while a category 5 storm.
The plane was scheduled to depart from Providenciales International Airport with 95 Canadians onboard, bringing them back to Canada after their having been stranded on the island. But local officials wouldn’t allow them to leave.
Richard Couët’s daughter Geneviève is one of those stranded. According to Richard, Geneviève was given several reasons why the flight didn’t depart, including because of security issues.
“That’s a little ridiculous,” Richard said. “Let them leave. They’re tourists, they’re going to have to leave anyway and the plane is sitting there empty.”
…Neither the airline nor Global Affairs offered an explanation as to why local authorities would not allow them to board the aircraft.
Grand Turk Coastline, Copyright: tallyclick / 123RF Stock Photo
Passengers waited for 3 hours outside the airport before being sent back to their hotels. The aircraft remains on the ground waiting for the passengers to be allowed to leave.
Pirates of the Caribbean :p
“Hi gift horse. Say ahhhh.”
Report from local is that AC plane is leaving with 90 pax. Unlear why 90 vs 95.
At least the plane is waiting and wasn’t forced to leave them behind.
Third world country…….
Oh boy…am I going to get the backlash!!
The prisoners (umm tourists) have been released:
http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadians-barred-from-flight-home-from-irma-battered-turks-and-caicos
Flight scheduled to depart today at 3:00pm to Toronto. It’s been a circus – but typical of the island where we have a 2nd home. 500 power line poles down on just Provo (one of the islands of the Turks & Caicos) so additional help was badly needed.
typo :
“An Air Canada charted flight arrived in Turks and Caicos yesterday with 95 electricians “************s part of a humanitarian aid mission” to rebuild”