‘There was an overwhelming sense of dread’: Traveller shares anxiety mid-flight as Brisbane declared hot spot

HEARTS were broken during a flight from Brisbane to Darwin as the Territory slammed shut its border to Queensland’s capital

• NT declares Greater Brisbane a COVID-19 hot spot

HEARTS were broken barely an hour into a flight from Brisbane to Darwin as the Territory slammed shut its border to Queensland’s capital.

At 9.15am yesterday the cities of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redland and the Moreton Bay region were declared COVID-19 hot spots by the NT government.

QF842, which departed from Brisbane at 8.50am, landed in Darwin about lunchtime with families shouting greetings and well wishes at one another while separated by barriers and police.

One woman attempted to throw a bag filled with Christmas presents to her family but was forced to keep them.

“That’s her Christmas present,” she yelled as police handed back the bag.

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Police swarmed a bus destined for Howard Springs, while a driver in full personal protective equipment led children and parents on board.

Another mum, surrounded by her children, tried to explain why they were boarding a bus.

“We’re just going on another little holiday,” she said.

GREATER Brisbane was declared a COVID-19 hot spot by the NT government, with all travellers entering the Territory required to go into mandatory quarantine effective immediately. Picture: Che Chorley

Jackson Matthews was fortunate enough not to go into quarantine, having only transited through Brisbane Airport from Newcastle.

He said passengers were tense and anxious, not knowing whether they’d need to go into quarantine.

“The flight had Wi-Fi so we all found out before the captain announced it,” he said.

“We were pretty nervous about the whole thing because we were mid-flight.

“There was an overwhelming sense of dread. Being in the air you didn’t really know what was going on.

Jackson Matthews was on the flight but did not have to enter into mandatory quarantine. Picture: Che Chorley

“Everyone was very quiet or whatever. A lot of people looking around very, very anxiously. Even the lady next to me, we sort of looked at each other complete strangers and we’ve just gone, now what?

“I think a couple of hearts got broken on that plane.”

JQ667 from Brisbane to Yulara was turned around by Jetstar and a second flight JQ674 landed in Darwin about 6pm.

Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said passengers aboard those flights would have the option to return to Brisbane immediately or go into quarantine at Howard Springs, with the costs of both options covered by the NT government.

Travellers who entered the NT by road until 12.30pm were also offered to have their quarantine fees waived.

Ms Manison urged anyone who returned from Greater Brisbane to Darwin from January 2 to self-isolate and get a COVID-19 test, with the NT’s coronavirus hotline already experiencing an influx of calls.

“We’re putting more staff on and we’re extending the hours of course over the weekend to make sure we can take the additional calls,” she said.

“Please be patient with them we’ve already experienced a high influx of calls coming through.”

Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced masks would become mandatory in all airport environments across Australia and on domestic and international flights

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Ms Manison said the new rules would be implemented within the week.

An NT Airports spokeswoman said decisions about the timing and management of mask wearing would soon be provided.

Ms Manison said now was time Territorians purchased face masks.

“That is a very important thing to take on board and people should start doing this from now,” she said.

“If you haven’t got a mask the time is now to make sure that you go out and purchase a mask to use on those flights. that is very, very important.”

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