Conservatory Trustees Stranded on Palmyra Island Wednesday

Several visiting conservatory trustees are stuck on Palmyra Island on Wednesday due to plane trouble.

The 12 trustees from Louisiana were supposed to leave Palmyra Island, which is about 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii, on Saturday. Palmyra Island is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and protected as a national wildlife refuge.

However, the only plane that flies directly to the island needs an engine replaced.

The stranded visitors will have to wait for Pacific Air Charters at Honolulu International Airport to fit a twin-engine Cessna plane with a 75-gallon fuel tank to get the plane to Christmas Island, which is 300 miles off Palmyra.

The plane then will ferry the trustees off Palmyra Island in two trips. The mission could be finished by Thursday.

Palmyra has electricity, cabins and supplies, due to its hosting an international research outpost. However, it still is important to get the visitors off as soon as possible.