CROWD WAITS FOR TROOPS AT AIRPORT

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A canceled flight for 11 area military personnel from the Persian Gulf War left family members, friends and co-workers waiting at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport Tuesday night.

The welcoming party numbering about 80 people had remained on hand to greet a vehicle the group reportedly had rented for the trip to Cape Girardeau. As of 11:20 p.m., they had not arrived, and 40 or more people were still waiting.

Becky Shea, a customer service representative for Trans World Express, said the TWE flight was canceled due to the lack of a full crew. It was originally scheduled to arrive from St. Louis at 10:48 p.m., she said.

Eleven people were scheduled to come in on the flight, she said.

Shea said information she had from St. Louis was that most of the group had rented a vehicle in St. Louis and were driving down.

Rick Fehr of Cape Girardeau and Ronald Sindle of Sikeston were identified as military personnel who were supposed to be on the plane. Both are medical personnel with the Naval Reserve.