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Maquoketa students to return home after airport fire

The Maquoketa students who were stranded in Africa after an airport fire are scheduled to return home on Sunday.

The Maquoketa, Iowa students who were stranded in Africa after an airport fire are scheduled to return home on Sunday.

Senator Bruce Braley announced on Friday, August 9, 2013 that the 26 teenagers who traveled to Kenya with Club Hope will be returning home on Sunday, August 11.

The group, consisting of high school students and their chaperons were working on a nine day service trip, helping to build a boarding school for girls. As they planned to fly back home on Wednesday, August 7, a massive fire destroyed the international airport in Nairobi, Kenya, halting their travel plans.

Braley noted that travel delays are frustrating, but understands that this circumstance was especially trying.

“As a father, I can understand the anxiety these kids and their parents were feeling,” Braley said.

After working with Delta Airlines, nearly the entire group will be on a flight leaving from Nairobi on Saturday night, arriving in Chicago on Sunday afternoon. Two of the tickets are currently on standby and confirmed for a flight leaving the following morning. If the entire group cannot get on Saturday’s flight, two chaperones will take the later flight.

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