A FLIGHT carrying British nationals stuck in Wuhan set off a year ago today.
The flight was carrying 83 British people and 27 foreign nationals from coronavirus-hit China to Brize Norton.
It had left the capital at 9.45am local time on Friday and touched down at the RAF base in West Oxfordshire at 1.30pm on January 31 last year.
Update: civilian aircraft chartered by the Foreign Office carrying 83 British and 27 foreign nationals is expected to land at RAF Brize Norton at 1330
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) January 31, 2020
Ambulances joined the plane on the runway and passengers, including small children, began disembarking just before 2pm.
Passengers walked down the stairs onto the runway wearing masks and the first to leave appeared to be a young family.
It came as the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in England.
The pair are members of the same family, according to Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty.
Update on #Coronavirus:@CMO_England statement on two confirmed cases in England.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 31, 2020
▶️ https://t.co/lAQUTk8qm4 pic.twitter.com/7p77OihKmv
While none of the people on the plane were confirmed infected with the deadly disease, they were all quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral for 14 days.
#BrizeNorton: In the interests of public safety it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to temporarily close the ‘Station Road, Manor Road & Carterton Road’ Temporary closure will operate for 1 day on 31/01/2020 (for 12 hours from 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs).
— BBC Oxford Travel (@BBCOxTravel) January 31, 2020
-
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel