London Airport Fire Causes Chaos for Broward Students’ Trip to Greece

Introduction to the Trip

It was supposed to be an epic Spring Break adventure for some Broward high school seniors, cruising the Mediterranean Sea and touring the Greek islands. But this dream trip to Greece turned into an expensive disaster for 28 students at Coral Springs Charter School, after a fire at Heathrow Airport in London grounded them last week in Miami. Students camped out on the floor of the Miami International Airport, while their parents said they struggled at the time to get answers from a tour company that organized the trip.

Impact on Students and Parents

“These seniors deserve better. They did everything right — excelled in academics, upheld their commitments, and paid for a trip that never happened,” said Allyson Dudich, whose son, Carson, was supposed to go to Greece. Parent Dina Newland, whose daughter Alexis was also excited about the trip, said it was heartbreaking for “this trip to be so close but have it ripped from you at the gates, literally.” Half the 57 students who signed up for the trip did make it to Greece, but not all went well for them either. A safety scare on a cruise ship cut their voyage short before the first scheduled stop. No one was injured, the travel company, EF Educational Tours, reported.

Financial Implications

For those students who never left Florida, their families may be out more than $4,500 unless they can get a new trip scheduled. Although most said they bought trip insurance, EF Educational Tours is only offering credits for future travel, not refunds. EF told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a statement that partial refunds are allowed only up to 45 days prior to departure, “after which no refund is available, because the entire tour has been fully paid for on our end.” “The safety and well-being of our travelers is always our top priority,” the statement said. “We deeply regret that the Heathrow fire and closures affected the travelers’ scheduled flights, causing them to miss their tour. We are working to support the group by providing a variety of flexible rebooking and voucher options.” The options include using the vouchers for college or adult travel programs or transferring them to someone else, company officials said.

Student Experiences

Students from Coral Springs Charter School slept on the floor at Miami International Airport Friday morning, March 21, 2025, after their flight to Athens, Greece, was canceled due to fires at Heathrow International Airport in London, where they were to have a layover. (Allyson Dudich / Courtesy)
Those options aren’t acceptable to parents like Ed Reed, whose daughter Madison was supposed to be on the Greece trip. He said he wants a refund. “I wanted to be able to give my daughter something that would be special for her. That turned into a nightmare,” Reed said. “Now she’s at home. She cries all the time. She’s upset. This is not how she wanted to spend her Spring Break.” Madison recently had back surgery due to a serious figure skating injury, and sleeping on the floor in Miami exacerbated it, her parents said.

School Response

About 57 students and several chaperones from the school were scheduled to go on the trip, which was only open to students who take classes through the academically rigorous Cambridge program, which is affiliated with Cambridge University in England. But instead of the entire group flying together on one plane to Athens, Greece, the travel company booked them on two separate flights with two different airlines. A British Airways flight traveling through Heathrow was scheduled to take off at 11:05 p.m. Thursday, March 20, while a Turkish Airlines flight that went through Istanbul was slated to leave about a half-hour later, family members said. The Turkish Airlines flight, with 29 Coral Springs students on board, had no issues. But while the 28 students seated on the British Airways plane awaited takeoff, they learned about a fire that shut down Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, Friday. More than 1,300 flights and more than 200,000 passengers had their travels disrupted, The Associated Press reported.

Safety Concerns on the Cruise

But within a few hours after takeoff, EF sent a note to parents about a safety issue. “We were notified by our Tour Directors on the cruise that emergency alarms were raised due to a smoke/fire issue,” the email said. “Guests were instructed to proceed to their designated emergency meeting points (muster stations) while wearing their life jackets. The boat was temporarily stopped in the ocean while this situation was being addressed.” The email said the issue was resolved and the ship was headed to its first stop in Mykonos. But on Monday night, EF sent an email to parents saying plans had changed, and the ship would return to Athens, and an alternative land-based itinerary and accommodations would be provided to the students.

Conclusion

The situation with the Coral Springs Charter School students’ trip to Greece is a disappointing one, with many students and parents left frustrated and seeking refunds. The school has expressed its frustration and is willing to work with the travel agency to find a solution. However, the students who were supposed to go on the trip are still waiting for a resolution, and many are hoping for a refund or a chance to reschedule the trip.

FAQs

Q: What happened to the Coral Springs Charter School students’ trip to Greece?
A: The trip was disrupted due to a fire at Heathrow Airport in London, which caused the cancellation of their flight.
Q: How many students were affected by the cancellation?
A: 28 students were unable to travel to Greece due to the flight cancellation.
Q: What is the travel company, EF Educational Tours, offering to the affected students?
A: EF Educational Tours is offering credits for future travel, but not refunds.
Q: What are the parents of the affected students seeking?
A: Many parents are seeking refunds for the trip, which cost over $4,500 per student.
Q: What is the school’s response to the situation?
A: The school has expressed its frustration and is willing to work with the travel agency to find a solution, but has no control over the travel arrangements.