PNG Catholic youths stranded in chilly Sydney
Updated
The last of around 500 Papua New Guinea pilgrims who attended the Pope's World Youth Day will arrive home in Port Moresby on Thursday, after being stranded in Sydney.
Our PNG correspondent, Steve Marshall, reports the enthusiasm around 500 young Papua New Guineans who attended World Youth Day has been dampened by the country's national airline.
A mechanical problem with Air Niugini's Boeing 767 left the pilgrims stranded in a chilly Sydney for three days.
The group's spokesman Noel Waife said they were cold and hungry as their money had run out.
Air Niugini engaged Qantas to fly the youths to Brisbane where a smaller aircraft picked them up, and 217 people arrived home Wednesday night, with another 200 expected to land Thursday.
