(LEX 18) — LEX 18 has learned that a family with Kentucky ties will finally be evacuated from Wuhan, China back to the United States.
James Dickey's ex-wife and daughter were two of the lucky ones who were granted a coveted ticket out of China last week as the fear of the novel coronavirus spread. Faced with multiple predicaments, he believed he had safely gotten them to a flight to the United States.
Upon arrival at the airport, it was determined that Priscilla Dickey and Hermione Dickey would not be able to board the flight. In the melee of evacuation, Hermione's American passport was misplaced.
Their initial attempt at evacuation was documented by NBC News for the Today Show.
Breaking overnight: A group of Americans are being evacuated out of China, where the death toll tied to the mysterious outbreak of coronavirus has topped 100.
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 28, 2020
This morning, more than 100 people in the U.S. are being monitored for potential cases, @janisfrayer reports. pic.twitter.com/o45C6poksz
Despite media outlets and family faxing pertinent identification information, the Dickeys were not allowed to board the plane headed for Alaska. The saga lasted several hours but eventually Prisicilla and Hermione were forced back to Wuhan. James Dickey eventually found the missing passport but was unable to leave to give it to his daughter.
James confirmed that after talking with the American consulate in Beijing that Hermione and Priscilla will be flown out of the country on Feb. 3
