A Fiji Airways flight reportedly aborted three landing attempts in the Fiji city of Nadi before diverting.
On Tuesday, April 7, the airline told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that their aircraft was traveling from Sydney to Nadi when harsh weather conditions from a tropical cyclone forced the plane to divert to Tonga.
“Fiji Airways advises customers that a number of flights have been canceled due to operational impact from Tropical Cyclone Vaianu,” the airline wrote in a travel alert on their website. “Affected guests are being assisted with alternative travel arrangements on the next available services.”
One person who traveled on the flight told ABC, “There were a few yelps and there was a bit of motion sickness going on up there, which was obviously not ideal,” she told the outlet. “The wind shear was pretty crazy up there, so I’m glad that they made a decision to move on.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Fiji Airways and Tanoa International Dateline Hotel for comment but didn’t immediately receive a response.
“There were basically people spewing up and down the aisles. Fortunately, my kids were pretty good; they sat there half asleep or they were entertaining themselves,” a second passenger added.
Australian resident, Opal Chandler, told FBC News that the experience was “disgusting,” adding that passengers were “retching and gagging.”
Tanoa International Dateline Hotel’s general manager, Jason Strickland, told ABC that 80 passengers on the diverted flight were accommodated at the hotel.
“They thought their holiday was going to start three times, and then they were off to Tonga,” he said. “It’s been tough, but we’re organized and everyone’s got food in their stomachs now and a few local beers to calm the nerves.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller website issued a travel warning for Australians traveling to Fiji.
Officials said that flights could be delayed or canceled due to heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds.
Press Release
