Overnight, the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport practically shutdown: Several flights in and out of the airport cancelled or sent back… all because of the fog.
Early morning departing flights canceled. Eight arriving flights sent back. Dozens of passengers stranded.
“I arrived from LAX last night, we tried 3 times to land and couldn’t, so we had to land in Portland,”returning Medford resident June Davidson says. She tells us they got as far as MFR’s runway lights… just to turn around. The fog was too thick. “I’ve been up since yesterday morning. I have dogs in the kennel, car in parking lot, so it’s kind of adding up a little bit,” Davidson tells us. She finally arrived on the first plane able to touch down through the morning fog Friday. “I felt like I was riding on a washboard,” comments Davidson. Passengers on board say it wasn’t an easy landing. “It was pretty interesting, I wasn’t sure the plane would actually land. I thought we’d go right back up,” says Robin Murphy who is coming in from Boston.
Airport officials confirm they did begin seeding, doing anything to get these flights in which is creating some ice around the airport. “We usually average about 11 times a year for operating our seeding operation,” says Airport Director Bern Case. “I’m sure we’re way past that.” Case says the foggy season can last through January… keeping travelers on a “Weather” standby.
“We’re just going to let nature take it’s course and hope for the best,” Colorado bound Dave Bowers says before heading out this morning.
As for Davidson, she’s just glad to be home, “Never so glad to see Medford!” She hopes to never spend another night in an airport. “I wouldn’t recommend it,” Davidson says with a laugh.
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