Caribbean travel disruptions leave local families stranded after Venezuela operation

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Several families from the Philadelphia area are struggling to get home after holiday trips to the Caribbean were extended due to flight cancellations linked to the recent operation in Venezuela.

Although flight restrictions following the mission in Venezuela have been lifted, travelers say the ripple effects continue to upend plans across the Caribbean.

Emily Cheramie-Walz of Elkins Park said her family of five from Montgomery County is stuck in Saint Martin until Friday. They were supposed to fly home Saturday, but their flight was canceled because of the earlier flight restrictions over the region.

“If you stay in a foreign country for another week, we’re all sort of in limbo. We don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.

The delays are affecting more than just travel plans. Cheramie-Walz is scheduled to be sworn in as a Cheltenham Township commissioner Monday night, a milestone she now hopes to attend virtually.

“We have jobs. We have school. I’m missing my swearing-in tomorrow. This is a cost we weren’t planning on incurring. It’s tremendously stressful,” she said.

Also stranded in Saint Martin is Pete Santoro of Landenberg, Chester County, a surgeon traveling with his wife and two sons. Santoro said the disruption has had consequences beyond his family.

“Really terrible for the patients. They’re going to have their operation delayed,” he added.

After a canceled flight, Santoro and his family rebooked for a Saturday departure. He said the uncertainty has taken a toll.

“I really didn’t sleep. I was online or on the phone and all day today trying to get something,” he said.

Not all travelers were left behind. Ashley Shapiro and her fiancée, Casey Snyder, both from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, were returning from Aruba. They were fortunate enough to secure a way home after exploring multiple options.

“Everybody legitimately clapped when this plane landed,” said Shapiro.

Snyder said the couple considered an indirect route through multiple countries just to make it back.

“We looked at every possibility. We initially booked a flight from Aruba to Colombia to Toronto. We were going to drive from Toronto just to get home,” he said.

The couple eventually found a flight to Atlanta and were expected to land in Philadelphia at 1 a.m. Monday.

“That’s all we wanted to do was get on U.S. soil. It feels amazing, I could cry,” Snyder said.

American Airlines said it added 5,000 additional seats, extra flights, and larger aircraft to help get passengers home. Travelers are urged to continue checking directly with their airlines for the latest updates.