Stranded Redmond man, mom catch last flight out of Thailand, back in US

Next leg also looks hopeful, but amid cancellations, still worried

(Update: Adding video; Lee, mother make flight to South Korea)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Redmond man stranded in Thailand with his mother at the end of their vacation when their and numerous other flights were canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak caught what he said was the only flight out to South Korea this month and returned to the U.S. on Monday.

Robert Lee told NewsChannel 21 they were back to Detroit by Monday morning: "No virus check on the U.S. (flight) but in (South) Korea they did a quick temperature test. They did pull one older guy out for screening. Not sure if he made it back on the plane."

Lee said they were waiting on their flight to Seattle and also had arranged one to Redmond, expected to arrive home Monday evening.

"So I am insanely happy to be able to come back home," he said.

Lee had told NewsChannel 21 on Saturday they had left on the vacation Feb. 21, one he'd "wanted to do for a long time." Along the way, he posted photos to Facebook of the beautiful scenery and places they visited, as so many travelers do.

But as they tried to head home, things took a worrisome turn for the worse.

Their return flight was among many being canceled due to the novel coronavirus. He said they learned the Hainan Airlines flight into Beijing was canceled.

Lee said they changed plans and were planning on flying on SAturday through South Korea to make their way back home, taking Korean Airlines and Delta.

But when they showed up at the airport, with many others, they found out most flights had been canceled. They told them to return at 10 p.m. Sunday local time, to see if the flight, due to leave at 1 a.m., is canceled again.

In addition, the planned flight out of South Korea to Seattle was canceled, so they might have to go through Detroit to then get to Seattle and back to Redmond -- or perhaps through Australia, to San Diego. Otherwise, he worries, they'll be stuck again, this time in South Korea.

"I think once I start heading to the U.S., I’ll be happy because we have our doctors there," Lee said Sunday in a Skype interview with NewsChannel 21.

"I’d hate to get stranded, but even if for whatever reason we get quarantined in the United States, I’d be much more comfortable than get quarantined in some other country, because me trying to communicate, even with the apps -- it’s difficult."

Lee also told NewsChannel 21 they got good news when they got to the airport Sunday night: The Korean Air flight was still on, and again he was told it was the last flight from Thailand to South Korea for the entire month.

Lee also said the airport in South Korea was immaculately clean when he went through there before, so he didn't expect further problems. He also said he hadn't been checked for the virus since arriving in Thailand, which doesn't seem as prepared or worried as South Korea.

And Sunday evening Pacific time, Lee confirmed, "Got to South Korea, still no (coronavirus) checks but flights are looking promising. … I am hearing about other flight cancelations but no one has said whether mine is canceled."

Several airlines, including American, Delta, and United, have either cancelled all flights through Asia or limited the number of flights in the continent. 

Lee said he's feeling fine, "not sick at all," but wonders if others who might have the virus are also having to go to more airports, due to the cancellations, potentially infecting more people.

"Now if all else fails, I'll try to fly to Australia then to San Diego, then to Redmond," Lee wrote earlier.

In a Facebook conversation while he waited, Lee said his girlfriend, Acacia Graeber, is back home in Bend and keeping in touch, "doing a good job of keeping me grounded (and) trying to keep me positive, although I know she is worried."

Lee said he was also worried about his workplace back home.

"Unfortunately for my work, I am the heavy wrecker supervisor for Consolidated Towing. And I know they are feeling the pressure without me there," Lee wrote.