FIRST ON FOX: An American traveler’s vacation in Sicily turned into a travel nightmare after volcanic activity from Mount Etna disrupted flights and left her scrambling to find another route back to New York.
Julie Sagoskin, editor-in-chief of Park Magazine in New York City, told Fox News Digital that she arrived in Sicily through Catania International Airport on Aug. 1 and spent more than a week traveling around the Italian island.
The trouble began when it was time to return home Aug. 10. Sagoskin said her flight from Catania was canceled amid ongoing volcanic activity.
“Right when we arrived at the airport, we did get a notice that our flight was canceled,” Sagoskin said.
She said another traveler in her group who had reached the airport earlier described the scene as “total chaos.”
The journey brought another unexpected twist when the train was transported across the water by ferry.
“The trip really turned into a trip upon a trip,” Sagoskin said.
The journey was made more challenging by stretches without air conditioning, she said.
After days of uncertainty, Sagoskin said seeing that her flight from Rome wasn’t delayed brought a sense of relief.
She finally flew home from Rome on Aug. 11, one day after her original return date.