Around 180 people did not make it home for Christmas this morning when a flight to St. John’s was diverted to Deer Lake.
A West Jet flight from Toronto to St. John’s changed its route and headed for Deer Lake at 4:30 this morning due to high winds.
According to passengers, another flight that is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. will take around 70 of the passengers from this morning’s diverted flight. They believe the next one following that is not until 9 p.m.
One passenger, a woman working in Alberta, is on her way to St. John’s to spend Christmas with her family and children. She says the situation is unfortunate especially because she resorted to watching her children open their presents via Facetime.
She says the staff at Deer Lake Regional Airport have been very helpful and caring throughout the morning.