The evacuation flight, which departed from New Caledonia’s Magenta Airport, brought relief to the stranded passengers who had spent the last week barricaded in hotels with limited food supplies. Among those on board was Mary Hatten, who expressed her gratitude upon landing in Brisbane: “When we landed, it was just like ‘Oh, thank God we’re here!'”.
The unrest in New Caledonia began on May 13 and has since resulted in widespread looting, arson, and deadly gunfire. The Australian government has urged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the region and has been working closely with French authorities to facilitate the evacuation of Australians. The C130 Hercules flight was the first successful evacuation since the outbreak of violence, and it is unclear when commercial flights will resume.
According to Hatten, the drive from Noumea Airport to the city on the day the unrest began was tense, with Indigenous Kanak protestors lining the road and burning tires. The situation quickly deteriorated, with smoke rising over Noumea and police taking up positions in the hotel where Hatten was staying. Multiple commercial flights home were canceled, leaving tourists stranded.
Hatten and her partner decided to take the opportunity to evacuate when the Australian consular staff called early Tuesday morning. They were given 30 minutes’ notice to pack their belongings and were transported to Magenta Airport under police and military escort. The flight carried a mix of tourists and Caledonian residents who had been stuck overseas due to the unrest.
As of now, over 3,000 travelers remain stranded in New Caledonia, and it is unclear how long it will take for the situation to stabilize. The Australian government continues to monitor the situation and provide assistance to its citizens.
