ALBANY, N.Y. - The Duanesburg family who survived the deadly cruise ship accident off the coast of Italy has made their way back to the Capital Region safe and sound.
Joan Fleser, her husband, Brain Aho and their daughter, Alana, arrived at the Albany International Airport after midnight on Tuesday still wearing the same clothes they were on Friday when the cruise ship carrying 4,200 people sunk.
It wasn't just the terrifying experience aboard the ship, the family faced a number of problems once they arrived to the U.S., the airline flew them to Albany, Georgia, not Albany, New York, due to an error by the Costa Concordia cruise line.
"The whole thing is unbelievable," Fleser said. "It's one disaster after another."
The family lost all of their luggage, money, and passports. They had very little direction in trying to find the American Embassy, and the cruise line offered no assistance once on land.
Fleser said "We were all so disappointed with the Embassy," as the American Embassy offered little help as well. She said they wanted the family to travel an hour to Rome before they could get any help, with no money and no identification.
"Spanish Ambassador, Irish Ambassador, British Ambassador, they all came to the hotels to help their people," Fleser said. "And our Embassy just said 'borrow some money and grab a cab.'" The Marriott eventually stepped up and got the family a shuttle to Rome.
Despite all problems, they are happy to be home and glad to see snow.
Italian Coast Guard officials say the number of people missing from the shipwrecked Costa Concordia has risen to 29, including a couple from Minnesota. The death toll has risen to 11, after five more bodies were found during rescue efforts on Tuesday morning.
PHOTOS: Cruise Ship Sinks off Italian Coast
Brain Aho, Joan Fleser, and their daughter Alana
Photo taken by Joan Fleser
NEWS10 ABC
