All flights CANCELED: Travelers told to 'go home'
Passengers have been told to go home after all flights were canceled at Perth Airport due to power outages “out of their control”.
Travelers sitting in the dark with only torches to light their way got bad news just before 6.30pm on Monday, that all flights—except for direct flights QF 9 London to Perth—had to be cancelled.
The violent storm that hit Perth cut off all electricity at the airport which some experienced staff had never seen before.
Perth Airport announced the news at around 5:15 p.m., warning that the blackout would result in lengthy delays over the next two hours.
The airport apologized to passengers, some of whom were found stranded at other airports because they could not land in Perth.
“The safety of everyone working or traveling through our airport remains our top priority,” the airport said.
“We apologize to our passengers and customers for the inconvenience.”
It said the decision was made on advice from Western Power.
“Perth Airport has made the decision to suspend all outbound services currently scheduled to depart before 7:30pm,” the statement said.
“All incoming flights en route will be able to arrive safely. All scheduled flights to Perth that have not departed will be postponed until further notice.”
Qantas passengers Angela and Han Nguyen hope to fly to Sydney for a three-day work event.
Nguyen, who is pregnant, said around 3pm they learned of the flight delay.
“We were sitting in the lounge upstairs getting a notification from staff that it was out of their control and they had no idea what was going on,” he said.
“Staff who worked for 20 years told us they had never seen anything like it.”
While “disappointed”, the couple said they were happy they were able to return to their Attadale home.
The lights came back on shortly before 7pm.
Passengers were told to leave as soon as their bags were collected and visitors to Perth were told to find their own accommodation.
Melbourne woman Caren Vidler said she didn’t know what to do as she frantically tried to find a bed for the night. He was on his way to London when he was stopped at immigration and told his flight was cancelled. “I’m going to watch some friends who are divers compete in the Commonwealth Games,” he said. “I’d be heartbroken if I couldn’t watch them, this is the whole point of my trip.” “I’ve never experienced this before, I don’t know anyone in Perth… I’m going to need a bed for the night.”
Western Power said emergency crews were hard at work in difficult conditions to restore power in Perth.
“The destructive and destructive winds associated with the front have thrown debris, including tree branches, into the grid, damaging equipment and collapsing power lines,” a spokesman said.
“Our priority during a hurricane is responding to reported hazards to ensure the safety of the public and our crew.
“Our network operations team is working to isolate the faulty part of the network and provide feedback where possible to restore power where it is safe to do so.”
It comes as Perth braces for more destructive winds that will ravage the State after thousands of people were left without power and property damaged overnight.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for Goldfields, Eucla, Lower West, South West, South Coastal, South East Coastal, Great Southern, Central Wheat Belt and parts of Gascoyne, South Interior and Central West districts.
A strong wind warning also applies to Melville Waters and Gascoyne Coast.
These winds are expected to continue until dawn on Wednesday and the Bureau has warned that gusts of wind could cause damage to homes and property, especially along the coast and nearby inland, becoming more isolated further inland.
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