‘Test Flight’ brings home 137 passengers, all now under quarantine

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A total of 137 passengers made Monday night’s test flight of the government’s Safe Travels flight system after 4 were denied boarding after they tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition, 11 other’s were unable to travel after coming in close contact with the positive cases and 1 partially vaccinated traveler dropped out at the last minute.

The Hawaiian Airlines test flight that brought down the first group of passengers who were not quarantined in Honolulu landed in the territory at 9:23 p.m. Monday night, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the American Samoa Dept. of Homeland Security.

In order to provide rigorous safety protocols, personnel from the departments of Health, Public Safety, and Homeland Security in full white Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) received the flight.

Once the passengers disembarked, they were directed onto pre-arranged aiga buses and were driven straight to the Tradewinds Hotel where they went into quarantine for 10 days.

At the hotel, the passengers were directed to their rooms and were not allowed out. Customs and Immigration clearances were deliberately left to be done the following day as the focus was making sure the passengers got off the plane, onto buses and straight into their hotel rooms with minimal contact.

The operation was closely monitored by members of the Task Force from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Homeland Security headquarters in Tafuna. They included Acting Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega, Homeland Security Director Samana Veavea, Police Commissioner Lefiti Atiulagi Pese, Attorney General Fainuulelei Falefatu Alailima Utu, Chief Procurement Officer Tialemasunu Dr. Mikaele Etuale and Public Works Director Faleosina Voight.

About a dozen support staff such as Public Works employees and aiga bus drivers who transported the passengers to the Tradewinds Hotel are being quarantined separately at the Alternate Care Facility (ACF) at the Department of Health.

The outbound flight comprised 181 travelers, which included off-island medical referrals and regular paying travelers.

(Source: ASDHS)