A fire burns on the east side of New Orleans early Friday morning.
A fire burns on the east side of New Orleans early Friday morning.
ATLANTA (AP) — About 140 refugees from New Orleans flashed peace signs and laughed with joy on Thursday when they arrived by plane in Atlanta.
They were plucked from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport by a Delta Air Lines jet, flown by two of the company's vice presidents accompanied by CEO Jerry Grinstein.
The fortunate passengers were among the hundreds seeking refuge at the crowded airport, which Grinstein said resembled a scene from "MASH."
Randy Willheit and his friend James Berndt had been stranded at the Chalmette Medical Center for five days before being airlifted to the airport.
The pair set out on a boat each day, grabbing an estimated 200 survivors hanging onto rooftops and bringing them to the relative safety of the hospital.
"I can't believe we lived through it," Willheit said.