24 students and nine teachers forced stranded in Sydney after Virgin flight cancelled
More than 20 high school students were stranded in Sydney, and hundreds caught in travel chaos, after their Virgin Australia flight was cancelled.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
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Almost 200 students and 20 staff members from a popular eastern suburbs high school were left in limbo in Sydney amid Virgin Australia chaos on Friday that it blamed on bad weather.
One hundred and eighty students from Marryatville High School were forced to wait after their flight was delayed, or find accommodation after their evening flight home was cancelled.
A total of 24 students and nine staff members were forced to spend another night in Sydney while 155 students and 11 staff were able to return to Adelaide that night.
Marryatville High School principal Julie Ferguson said the group of year 8 students were in Canberra and Sydney last week for a “series of educational activities”.
“On Friday night they were booked on two different Virgin flights to return from Sydney to Adelaide,” she said.
“Unfortunately one of those flights was delayed, and one was cancelled.
“The staff with the group ensured that as many students as possible were rebooked on a flight that night, which ultimately saw 155 students and 11 staff return to Adelaide on Friday evening.
“A total of 24 students and 9 staff stayed overnight in Sunday, in accommodation organised by staff, and returned to Adelaide the next morning.”
Ms Ferguson said the school remained in “constant communication” with the students family and provided them with the necessary support.
“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of all the Marryatville High School staff who managed this evolving situation and ensured the students were all accommodated and then safely returned home.”
Virgin Australia said the flights were delayed and cancelled due to the weather in Sydney at the time.
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