Typhoon Hongxia strands 300 in Kinmen; military aircraft deployed for evacuation

Typhoon Hongxia disrupted travel plans, leaving over 300 passengers stranded in Kinmen, Taiwan, as flights were canceled. The Ministry of National Defense intervened, dispatching three military aircraft to help evacuate the stranded travelers.

The situation was compounded by Taiwan's "group tour ban," which has increasingly made Kinmen a transit hub for Taiwanese travelers heading to mainland China. This has reduced the availability of flights for locals and temporary workers commuting between the island and the mainland.

"Red Xia" (Hongxia) caused the suspension of the small three-links ferry service on the 25th, leading to a surge in passengers transferring back to Taiwan the following day. Despite efforts to manage the backlog, nearly 400 passengers still faced travel disruptions on the 27th.

In response, the Kinmen Airport initiated "Plan C," securing approval from the Ministry of National Defense for two flights from Kinmen to Taipei and one from Kinmen to Kaohsiung, with a total capacity of 210 passengers. While this did not clear the entire backlog, it significantly eased the waiting crowd. Airport officials plan to continue seeking additional flights based on passenger demand and weather conditions.