MIAMI – The U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday that three flights of rescued Americans had come from Haiti, and that more were expected on Tuesday.
At least one commercial flight from Haiti arrived at Miami International Airport, with the passengers all having varying stories of how they got there.
“We had to take a bus to Port-au-Prince, a five-hour drive,” said Rolldege Arius.
All came with a similar theme of how escaping danger in Haiti upended their stay, or desire to stay.
“A lot of people (are) trying to leave,” said Rolldege, who is a former pro soccer player who now coaches.
The Canadian of Haitian descent was there for training.
Asked if he was surprised by how difficult it was for him to get off the island, he said, “A bit and no. We saw the situation.”
Monday’s flight from Cap-Haïtien to Miami was a few hours late and weeks in the making.
The airline had suspended operations when armed gangs attacked the airport in Port-au-Prince a few weeks ago.
Several of its aircraft were blistered by bullets when it happened.
But Monday’s commercial flight was the first opportunity to fly out for non-U.S. citizens holding visas and green cards who are ineligible for the U.S. State Department and Florida-state-sponsored rescue charters.
Florida’s point man on the flights spoke about the daily nightmare of logistics to get people safely home.
“We try to rush around because this particular airport has no runway lights, so they have to be off the ground there by sunset,” said Florida Emergency Management Manager Kevin Guthrie.