The niece of an elderly man who was medevaced from Labrador West to St. John’s over Christmas was shocked to learn that his return flight was minutes from take-off when the air ambulance crew aborted the flight and returned him to the Health Sciences Centre – all because the flight was destined for the wrong location.

The 78-year-old was airlifted out of Labrador on Christmas Day and treated for cardiac issues over the next couple of weeks. On Thursday, he was strapped in aboard the air ambulance at St. John’s Airport, ready to go home, but all of a sudden, it was realized that the flight was going to Goose Bay – not Wabush.

Lisa Bishop was shocked to get a call at 10:00 that night telling her of the change in plans. She can’t understand how it would not be known that he was going to Lab City-Wabush and not Goose Bay.

She doesn’t blame the nurses but says there has to be a communication issue somewhere along the chain.