The officials were on their way to attend the Federated States of Micronesia leadership inauguration and the Micronesia Chief Executives Summit which began yesterday.
The Continental plane carrying Fitial, Toribiong, their entourages and the Guam delegation made three attempts to land on Pohnpei, but the rain was so troublesome, cutting off visibility, that the pilot could not see the runway, according to David Bell who is with the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future, which serves as the Secretariat for the Micronesian Chief Executives Summit
The pilot diverted the flight to Kosrae where the plane could only accommodate 25 people.
Fitial deferred to Toribiong, leaving the governor and his entourage in Kosrae.
Won Pat and Respicio also stayed in Kosrae. Fitial and his entourage then flew to Majuro, the Marshall Islands, said Bell.
Continental was able to send a rescue plane from Guam at about 6 p.m. and picked up the stranded delegations in Kosrae and Majuro. The entire delegation landed safely on Pohnpei on Tuesday evening.
