How three hour flight turned into 30 hour ordeal for Qld tourists

About 80 Jetstar passengers including children and an elderly woman just out of hospital were left stranded overnight after a flight to Melbourne was grounded. It took them about 30 hours to get home.

About 80 Jetstar passengers including children and pregnant women were stranded at Proserpine overnight after a flight to Melbourne was grounded.

Whitsunday Coast Airport staff provided comfort to the group overnight as they were forced to bunker down amid the flight cancellation.

It is understood the flight had been due to fly out Tuesday morning. It was more than 24 hours before the passengers were on their way.

Nine reported the three hour flight turned into 30 for passengers finally getting into Melbourne.

Among those caught up in the drama was a wheelchair-bound woman who was forced to sleep on an airport couch.

Kaylene Cooper, 68, was flying home after being admitted to Mackay Base Hospital for three weeks due to a cellulitis flare-up.

She spent most of her time in the intensive care unit, unable to walk and using a wheelchair for assistance.

Her son, Travis Cooper, told the Herald Sun he flew to Queensland to help her get home safely.

“I flew up Sunday to help with her discharge and be the support she needs for the flight home,” he said.

Kaylene Cooper, 68, was forced to sleep on an airport couch after her Melbourne-bound flight was abandoned. Picture: Supplied

“The doctors wanted mum to fly home and get her wounds dressing changed straight after the flight but we’ve been at the airport now for more than 24 hours.”

A Jetstar spokesman said the aircraft had experiences “an engineering issue”, while bad weather in Proserpine meant the airline could not “fly in an engineer to fix the problem or another aircraft”.

“Our teams worked really hard to find accommodation for passengers, however there were very few rooms available because of the school holidays,” the spokesman said.

About 80 Jetstar passengers including children and pregnant women were stranded at Proserpine after a flight to Melbourne was grounded.

“We put on a special flight last night to try to fly passengers who couldn’t find accommodation to Brisbane, however this flight was unable to land in Proserpine due to fog.”

The passengers were given refreshment vouchers, while food and drink outlets stayed open late that night.

One member of the group posted on social media “And Jetstar strikes again!! Currently over 80 people, elderly, children, pregnant women left overnight at Proserpine airport after Melbourne bound flight delayed from 11.05am this morning. No idea when we will be able to fly out!!”

Jetstar confirmed the passengers were en route just after 3pm Wednesday and apologised for the “lengthy disruption”.

“(We) know it would have been an uncomfortable night for passengers,” the spokesman said.

A group of Jetstar passengers have arrived in Melbourne after they were left stranded in the Whitsundays airport for 30 hours. @abcrothers#9Newspic.twitter.com/lBSiLVnBGu

— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) July 5, 2023

“We will always prioritise safety and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we work really hard to get them on their way today.

The passengers were given refreshment vouchers, while food and drink outlets stayed open late that night.

“We thank Whitsunday Regional Council who operate the airport for their assistance with making available food, drinks and other support for passengers overnight.”

The flight was one of a number of cancellations after rain smashed the coast this week.

A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster said there had been quite a bit of rain since 9am Tuesday.

Carmila copped the most across the Mackay Whitsunday region with 50mm, while most gages across in the Mackay area received 30 to 40mm and Sarina had 45mm.

Whitsunday Coast Airport had 28mm while Hamilton Island picked up 43mm.

Originally published as How three hour flight turned into 30 hour ordeal for Qld tourists