PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (May 28, 2000 ‹ PIDP/CPIS)---Two special
Polynesian Airlines flights, arranged to evacuate Samoan students attending
the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji School of Medicine in Suva,
uplifted more than 200 people, according to the airline's flight operations
division on Sunday.
The evacuation flights were requested by Samoa' Prime Minister Tuilaepa
Sailele Malielegaoi following the continuing Fiji crisis, now in its second
week.
The first evacuation flight departed Samoa's Faleolo International Airport
at 1:55 a.m. Saturday and returned with 127 passengers. The second flight
left Samoa at 7:00 a.m. Sunday with 119 passengers, said a spokesperson for
the airline's Flight Operations Division in a telephone interview from
Samoa's capital of Apia Sunday afternoon.
The spokesperson could not specify the actual number of Samoan students on
either flight, or confirm if any students from American Samoa were on board.
When the crisis erupted on May 19th, Polynesian canceled its weekly flight
to Nadi until further notice. The airline, however, operated a flight on
Friday, May 26, departing at 7:00 p.m. and returning with a full passenger
load from Fiji.
Polynesian Airlines has not yet made a decision on the status of this week's
Friday flight to Fiji.
American Samoa Governor Tauese Sunia requested Samoa's Prime Minister on
Friday to assist with the evacuation of territorial students attending the
Fiji School of Medicine, if it becomes necessary.
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