Locals put trips to Paris on hold amid terrorist attacks

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- All across the country flights to Paris were put on hold Friday as airlines tried to figure out if they would be turned away.

That left hundreds of passengers in a holding pattern including those who were supposed to fly out from Philadelphia on American Airlines flight 754 to Paris.

"We were waiting around, normal things happened, we got on the plane, everybody was getting situated, and then they just made an announcement we all needed to get off the plane," said Heather Weisel of Virginia Beach.

The flight was due to take off for Paris at 6:30 p.m. Friday, but just before takeoff came word the French government had shut down its boarders declaring a State of Emergency.

The airline did not cancel the flight, but instead pushed it back to 7:30 p.m. until it could figure out if they would be able to fly into Paris in light of the situation.

But Fran Cannon from Mount Laurel and her friend decided to cancel their trip and not go after all.

"Horrible. I was scared in the beginning, I didn't wanna go," said Cannon. "But now it came true."

Meanwhile, other passengers were left in a holding pattern.

"And then they just announced that America was trying to figure out what to do, and then they delayed it again," said Weisel.

Just before 8:30 p.m., the airline received the green light and passengers began boarding, but Weisel, along with her young daughter, also decided not to go on what was supposed to be a dream vacation.

"It just didn't seem like a good idea to land in the middle of a terrorist situation happening," said Weisel. "I feel horrible for those people, horrible for those people. I am grateful we weren't there, and we didn't land in the middle of it."

Weisel tells Action News, she and her daughter eventually do want to see Paris for the first time, but are going to wait until things cool down.