The Learjet 45 had been due to refuel in Marrakech after medical staff in hazmat suits evacuated two people on stretchers from the virus-ravaged cruise liner, but Morocco refused the aircraft permission to land
A plane transporting two individuals evacuated from the virus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius off Cape Verde was forced to make an unexpected landing in Gran Canaria this afternoon after Morocco denied it permission to touch down.
The Learjet 45 had originally been set to refuel in Marrakech following the removal of the duo by medical staff wearing protective suits on stretchers. However, it was forced to divert to Gando Air Base, a Spanish Air Force facility on Gran Canaria’s eastern coastline, following Morocco’s rejection.
The aircraft was scheduled to depart once more for its ultimate destination of Holland at approximately 5.40pm local time today. It remained unclear this afternoon whether a critically-ill British medic was amongst those on board.
His planned transfer to a medical facility in Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz was delayed early this morning before officials announced he would be flown to the Netherlands instead.
Alongside the 56-year-old Briton, a 41-year-old Dutch national and a 65-year-old German were also airlifted from the Dutch-operated cruise vessel to Amsterdam.
Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia confirmed earlier today that the unnamed physician’s condition had improved prior to the emergency evacuation.
She stated: “The British doctor was yesterday in a more critical condition but he has been stabilised and won’t be transferred to Spain now in line with the Dutch government’s request to us, but is instead being transferred to Holland.”
It remained unclear why Moroccan officials had refused the Learjet 45 landing rights. Footage published online showed it touching down at Gando Air Base. It comes as two Argentine officials said their government’s leading theory is that the virus was brought onto the ship by a couple who visited a landfill site to do some birdwatching.
The Dutch-owned MV Hondius is scheduled to dock in Tenerife on Saturday, with midday now being given as the time it will reach the southern port of Granadilla de Abona. All the foreigners on the ship, including the 20 Brits on board, will be repatriated to their home countries once they reach dry land unless their health deteriorates.
The 13 Spanish passengers and one crew member on board will be flown on a military plane to an airport on the outskirts of Madrid before being taken to a military hospital in the Spanish capital and quarantined for as long as necessary.
Speaking earlier today at a press conference, a day after Spain agreed to receive the cruise liner instead of Cape Verde, Mrs Garcia said: “All the passengers and crew that remain on the ship at present are asymptomatic.
“Once the evacuation of those with symptoms in Cape Verde has concluded, the ship will continue to the Canary Islands where it is expected to arrive in around three days’ in the secondary Tenerife port of Granadilla de Abona.
“It’s a port with very little activity, a secondary port, which is 10 minutes away from Tenerife South Airport. Once it’s arrived, a joint operation of medical evaluation will be launched along with an evacuation operation for all the foreign passengers via a European Civil Protection mechanism unless their medical condition renders this impossible.”
She added measures would be adopted to avoid any contact between those on board the ship and the local population.