Students on a school trip are stranded in New York

Nov 1 2012 By Laura Mowat

STUDENTS on a school trip are stranded in New York as Hurricane Sandy has delayed their flight home.

The Misbourne sixth formers left for the States on Friday, October 26 for an art trip. They were supposed to return on Tuesday. The storm caused flights to be grounded over safety concerns.

On the website, the school said the students are safe and well. However, some of the trips including visiting the Museum of Modern Art and the Empire State Building have had to be cancelled.

The school’s website said: “Their activities had to be altered due to the weather and their flight, which was due to leave today and arrive in London tomorrow, has been cancelled.

“The school is currently working closely with the travel agent to ensure the whole group travels back to London on the same flight. We will continue to update the website as we get more information.”

Spokesman for Bucks County Council Richard Wells said: “The students were meant to come back on Tuesday but their flight was cancelled because of the hurricane. They are awaiting their provider company to rearrange flights and parents are being kept informed.”

Nicola Atuanya, mother of Nkoli Atuanya, a science student at the Misbourne who is out in New York, said: “They are all in good spirits. They are staying at a hotel and it hasn’t lost power so they have been watching cable TV.

“I knew that where they were staying was not near the shore so I wasn’t too worried. I know a few people are a bit shocked as it may take them a week to get home.

“The only way they have been affected is the increase in rain there.”

According to the Foreign Office, up to 50,000 British tourists may be forced to prolong their stay in New York.