Last flight before travel ban takes effect leaves RDU

After midnight on Friday, a travel ban went into effect banning those flying from Europe to the United States.

Posted 2:59 a.m. Mar 14, 2020 — Updated 12:16 p.m. Mar 14, 2020

Julian Grace

, WRAL anchor/reporter

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — As of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, a travel ban went into effect, banning those flying from Europe to the United States.

The last international flight departed from RDU's runway at 8:15 p.m. Friday. There were two flights heading overseas on Friday, one was canceled and the other was on schedule. There was also one flight coming from London and from Paris.

Those coming and going at RDU were well aware of the changes starting at midnight.

“We were anxious to get back because we want to be home we didn’t want to get stuck," said Gunther Peck, who just got back from London.

The Peck family came in on a flight from London. They were in the UK for six days. While there, they kept up on the rapidly developing coronavirus updates and President Trump’s 30-day travel ban that will stop citizens of 26 European countries from entering the US.

Excluded from that list? The UK and Ireland. Despite being exempt from the ban, panicked travelers were desperately scrambling to get on the last flights out of Europe on Friday.

"When we left (the United States), everything was normal and then it got much worse," Peck said.

Then there were those that were heading to London but had a change of heart.

"I have to take my daughter back to school in the U.S.," said Miki, who didn't want to give their last name. "The school possibly would not take her back."

Miki changed her itinerary from London to somewhere warmer.

"Changed our trip to the Caribbean because our daughter needs to go on vacation," Miki said.

The airline industry has taken a hit from the coronavirus outbreak. The major carriers have been forced to slash flights, grappling with a major lag in passenger demand.

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