Welcome back: Repatriated Aussies settle in to quarantine in Howard Springs

ABOUT 160 formerly stranded Aussies have settled in to their new digs in Howard Springs, where they will quarantine for two weeks. The expats arrived today on the the first of eight repatriation flights to bring stranded Aussies home via Darwin

FLIGHT QF110 has touched down in Darwin after 15 hours and 50 minutes in the air.

The first of eight repatriation flights bound for the Top End was carrying over 170 passengers and crew.

They are now disembarking at the RAAF base at Darwin airport and will be tested for COVID-19, before being bussed to Howard Springs.

The plane touched down at roughly 11.50am Darwin time.

Flight QF110 touches down in Darwin after 15 hours and 50 minutes in the air. Picture: . Picture: Che Chorley

Passengers from QF110 are transported to Howard Springs where they will spend two weeks in quarantine. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Flight QF110 arrives at Darwin Airport ... the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is fittingly painted with a design showcasing the artwork of senior Northern Territory Anmatyerre artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Picture: Che Chorley

Pictures of the flight to Darwin emerged this morning, as over 170 passengers and crew flew into the Top End today.

The images, posted to Qantas’ social media pages, show the pilots in the cockpits and passengers embarking on the nearly 16-hour flight from Heathrow to Darwin.

The first of eight repatriation flights to bring Aussies home has touched down in Darwin. Captain Craig Heinrich gave a very special welcome to everyone onboard, including a reminder about this weekend’s footy finals. Picture: Facebook

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Cabin crew are shown wearing masks welcoming customers aboard.

“Captain Craig Heinrich gave a very special welcome to everyone on-board, including a reminder about this weekend’s footy finals,” Qantas wrote on its page.

The first of eight repatriation flights to bring Aussies home has touched down in Darwin. Captain Craig Heinrich gave a very special welcome to everyone on-board, including a reminder about this weekend’s footy finals. Picture: Facebook.

The first of eight repatriation flights s to bring Aussies home has touched down in Darwin. Captain Craig Heinrich gave a very special welcome to everyone on-board, including a reminder about this weekend’s footy finals.

Once in the NT, passengers will be tested for COVID-19 and then whisked away to Howard Springs’ quarantine facility.

Quarantining Australians will be offered state-of-the-art bracelets which will then track their vital signs for any early hints of a potential COVID-19 infection.

A young family boards QF110 bound for Darwin. Picture: Facebook.

Yesterday AusMAT officials told the NT News there was a “realistic” chance of COVID-19 cases popping up at Howard Springs.

It comes as infections of the deadly virus surge across Europe, the UK and US.