Hurricane Maria: Flying from Orlando to Puerto Rico leaves passengers stranded

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As people scramble to try to reach loved ones in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Eyewitness News has learned the first commercial flight with tickets for sale from Orlando to Puerto Rico could leave Tuesday.

However, Channel 9's Field Sutton learned that's still not a sure thing and it could be another week before people can fly to the island.

Ticket agents told Eyewitness News the same thing, adding that it’s just an estimate on when the flights could leave. Even airline employees are largely in the dark about when flights from Orlando International Airport to San Juan will happen.

"My family. I miss my family,” said Angel Morales, who is stuck at OIA. Morales came to Central Florida a week ago for a doctor’s appointment and couldn't fly back the same day Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and left him stranded in Orlando.

"I don't have no contact with my family either, so I can't talk with my wife. My wife right now is pregnant," Morales said. "(I) can't see my babies. And I try to call, every time, no answer, nothing."

For Isaura Andino and her daughter, they saved for years for a dream vacation to Disney; now they can’t make it home.

“It’s the first time that we go out from Puerto Rico because our vacations are always in the house,” Andino said.

She told Eyewitness News that there’s no extra money for a hotel, so she and her daughter sleep in shifts at the airport and eat food they bought during their vacation.

“I know people might be saying, ‘What do you want to go to Puerto Rico for? There’s no water, there’s no light.’ But they’re my family. Maybe some way I can get to their houses and then I know they’re OK,” Andino said.

The mother and daughter were able to find a place to stay Monday night after a Channel 9 viewer called and offered to help them out.

Flights have landed in Puerto Rico, but they've been carrying supplies and aid workers. Other people are running into roadblocks just trying to buy a ticket.

Southwest Airlines told Eyewitness News that commercial flights won't resume between OIA and San Juan until Wednesday evening at the earliest.

Southwest is offering flexible accommodations for those holding reservations and who want to alter their travel plans for San Juan through Sunday, Oct. 15. Flights may be re-booked in the original class of service or they can travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with the airline's accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.

JetBlue has already canceled everything for Tuesday that's not humanitarian. A spokesperson said the airline is only offering humanitarian and relief flights at this time.

Spirit said it may be able to make one flight with seats for sale Tuesday if the conditions allow.

The airport in San Juan is damaged and on generator power, besieged by people trying to get off the island, and dictating when and how often those airlines can fly.

The airlines are in limbo about whether to sell tickets on flights that may never happen or just wait at the airport's mercy, and that trickles down to passengers.

Cox Media Group