A suitable aircraft has finally been secured to evacuate Australian and New Zealand passengers stranded aboard the Hantavirus‑affected MV Hondius, with hopes the repatriation flight will depart by the end of the week. The breakthrough comes after days of uncertainty and mounting concern among families waiting for news back home.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler described the mission as “difficult”, acknowledging the challenge of finding a charter company and crew willing to operate under strict quarantine conditions. The operation has required intense negotiations, specialised medical planning, and international cooperation to ensure the safe return of passengers.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed on Tuesday that the government is now finalising the necessary clearances and approvals for the journey back to Australia. While the exact departure date remains unconfirmed, officials say progress is steady and the flight is expected to proceed once all health and aviation protocols are locked in.
Authorities also revealed that a French national remains in critical condition in a Paris hospital, relying on an artificial lung after contracting the rodent‑borne virus. In total, eleven cases have been reported, nine of them confirmed.
Tragically, three people from the Oceanwide Expeditions cruise have died, including a Dutch couple believed to have been exposed to the virus during a visit to South America. The first passenger to die was never tested for Hantavirus, leaving their case officially unconfirmed.
As the situation unfolds, health officials continue to investigate the source of the outbreak and monitor passengers closely, while families wait anxiously for the long‑awaited flight home.
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