Carolyn Jones was treated to a 'holiday of a lifetime' by her son Jamie who paid for the trip to Thailand with compensation he received for being injured in the Liverpool parade crash
Carolyn Jones, 55, with sons Jamie and Sean.
Carolyn Jones, 55, with sons Sean and Jamie.(Image: Supplied)
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A family is currently marooned in Thailand after their return flights were cancelled due to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.
Carolyn Jones was gifted a "holiday of a lifetime" by her son Jamie for her 55th birthday. Jamie, 27, who was injured in the Liverpool FC parade crash in May, funded the holiday with the compensation he received. Carolyn, Jamie, and youngest son Sean, 16, who has autism, were scheduled to fly home today (March 10), but the flight was cancelled three days prior and rescheduled for March 17.
However, this subsequent flight was also cancelled. Carolyn revealed that the family's travel insurance policy does not cover war, and as a result, they have been compelled to pay for hotel expenses themselves.
Carolyn, who is medically retired due to a disability, is rapidly running out of pain medication which she cannot locate at pharmacies in Bangkok, reports the Liverpool Echo. She said: "We desperately need to get home but we are stuck here in Thailand. We are not alone, there's a lot of other families in the same position as us. What started as a dream holiday has now become a living nightmare. We just want to come home."
The ECHO has tried to reach Etihad Airways for a response. The airline resumed a "limited commercial flight schedule" on March 6, including between Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, Manchester and Heathrow. In a statement, Etihad confirmed "guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible". The carrier added: "Safety remains our absolute priority, and services will operate only once all safety criteria are met."
The family travelled from Dublin to Abu Dhabi and onwards to Bangkok on February 21. Carolyn explained: "All was fine, and I had an amazing birthday on March 26. Etihad haven't given us new flights as yet so we are stuck here. Insurance won't cover war so we are having to pay for hotels ourselves until they give us a new date.
"I am on very strong medication and was only allowed to bring enough for the holiday which runs out today and haven't been able to get any more as one of them is an opiate which isn't sold or prescribed here. We only had enough money for holiday spends, and flights home have trebled in price.
"We don't have credit cards or savings, and this is the first holiday I've had in seven years. Etihad are not being at all helpful and my younger son Sean is not coping at all due to his autism and is missing being at his school at Abbot's Lea in Woolton."
Carolyn continued: "I fear we will be stuck here for months and every penny I get will be going on hotels or we will end up sleeping on the beach."
In a statement issued on March 6, a spokesperson for Etihad Airways announced: "Etihad Airways will resume a limited commercial flight schedule from 6 March 2026, operating between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations. Guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible. Tickets are also available for sale on etihad.com.
"Passengers and members of the public should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad or hold a confirmed booking on one of these new flights. The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments.
"Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met. The most up-to-date information is available at etihad.com.
"Affected guests will receive direct communication from Etihad confirming the status of their flight and outlining available options. Guests are encouraged to ensure their contact details are up to date and monitor their email for further updates.
"We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and appreciate your patience as it may take longer than usual for calls to be answered. Guests seeking a refund are encouraged to use the above linked refund request form. Safety remains our absolute priority, and services will operate only once all safety criteria are met."