Seventy-six passengers who were on the last Virgin Australia flight departing Sydney to Tongatapu on 18 March, had to overnight in Fiji, when the plane could not land in Tonga due to technical issues with the landing lights at Fua’amotu International Airport.

After arriving later on 19 March, they must self-quarantine in Tonga until April 2 under the new travel advisory no. 5.

A passenger on the flight told Matangi Tonga that they were caught up with the new rules that came into effect on 19 March. The businessman has self-quarantined in Nuku'alofa, but said no-one had checked on him by phone or otherwise since he left the airport last Thursday.

The flight departed Sydney, while Tonga's Travel Advisory number 4 was in effect requiring foreigners who had travelled to China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to quarantine for 14-days outside of Tonga (excluding Tongan nationals, and permanent residents).

However, travel advisory number 5 came into effect on 19 March requiring foreign passengers to quarantine themselves for 14-days prior to arriving in Tonga, including Australia.

On the same day, Fiji announced its first CoViD-19 case.

Lights 

Paul Karalus of Air Terminal Services told Matangi Tonga today, this flight was on schedule to arrive after 1:20am on 19 March.

He said, earlier the lights had worked on the routine check but upon the arrival of VA95 they did not work. 

The aircraft circled for some time (approx. 45 minutes) before proceeding to Nadi as their fuel reserves could not be assured when there was no certain time for the restoration of the lights.

He said, the flight returned on 19 March after the mandatory crew rest period, [arriving after 3:00pm] with 76 passengers and later departed for Sydney with 138 passengers.

“The delayed arrival was due to technical issues, no other reasons," he said.

Travel advisory 

At the same time, Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said all flights that came after 19 March were caught up with Tonga’s travel advisory 5  requirements.

“This is a big challenge and although 98% of passengers have complied with advice given by Health authorities, we have a few problematic people who were sent to Taliai Camp and a few are being charged for breach of requirements under the Public Health Act,” he said.

However, Dr ‘Akau’ola was not aware that these Sydney passengers who were diverted to Fiji on 18-19 March had returned to Tonga later on 19 March.

“If that was the situation, then they would have to undergone quarantine according to the travel advisory 5. It will have to be another home quarantine in Tonga for 14-days,” he said.

“We don't count quarantine in Australia for 14-days as enough for Tonga's circumstances, since we do not monitor or know how effective that process was in Australia. It is better to overprescribe the quarantine requirements than be sorry later,” he said today.

In addition, people who come from a country where there is CoViD-19 to a country that has none, should appreciate, that there will be more precautions and strict measures in place, in the CoViD-19 free country. Especially, if the positive CoViD-19 country cannot trace community transmission anymore, said Dr 'Akau'ola.