A Qantas flight carrying 266 people evacuated from the coronavirus epicentre in Wuhan, China has touched down in Darwin to cheers and applause from those on board.
The travellers disembarked through the Royal Australian Air Force base, rather than the main airport terminal.
They arrived at the disused Manigurr-Ma work camp in Howard Springs, located 30km from Darwin, on Sunday afternoon.
They will remain at the Howard Springs facility for 14 days while they are monitored for the coronavirus, which has killed at least 800 people.
The Qantas plane was originally scheduled to leave Wuhan on Friday night but did not get clearance to land from China and spent Saturday in Hong Kong.
Melbourne mother-of-two Ying Wung was aboard the flight with her partner and two children.
“Everyone clapped while we took off, and clapped when we landed,” she told SBS News.
Ms Wung said passengers were forced to wait more than eight hours at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport and undergoing multiple checks before being allowed on board.
Ying Wung and her family after landing in Darwin Source: SBS News/Supplied
“It was relatively easy, but there were many twists and turns,” she said.
“We had to have two temperature checks before being allowed to board.
“We needed to do a lot of paper work for Chinese authorities and Australian authorities, as well.”
Passengers were also requested to undergo one temperature check during the six-hour flight, Ms Wung said.
The Manigurr-ma accommodation village outside Darwin, where coronavirus evacuees are to be quarantined Source: Aneeta Bhole/SBS News
Health officials travelled on board the plane, asking passengers whether they had experienced any symptoms or if they had been in contact with someone diagnosed with the coronavirus.
“They made us feel very welcome. The Qantas crew were also very nice,” Ms Wung said.
Ms Wung described the evacuation as a “once in a lifetime experience” and said she had no qualms about being quarantined at the disused mining camp.
“I am just so tired. I just need a sleep. We are relieved to be out of there”.
The Australian Border Force said the 266 evacuees included 77 children, 11 infants and one "less-than-able" 90-year-old man.
All were "well" and healthy, the force said.
Shift from Christmas Island
Evacuees were initially expected to be quarantined on Christmas Island, before a decision was made on Friday to bring them to the former Inpex workers site.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly revealed on Saturday that one of the people there - a young Australian girl - had been tested for the virus after developing an illness.
It was confirmed on Sunday afternoon she had tested negative for the coronavirus.
Authorities have also just become aware of a third cruise ship, located somewhere between Japan and Guam, affected by the coronavirus.
Professor Kelly said it wasn't known yet whether there were any Australians on board.
Another ship at Yokohama in Japan with 3,700 people on board has 219 Australians, who are well, and another seven who are among 64 passengers to have tested positive.
Another cruise ship in Hong Kong with cases of coronavirus on board has 16 Australians, none of whom are ill.
Australia so far has had 15 confirmed coronavirus cases: five in Queensland, four each in NSW and Victoria and two in South Australia.
Additional reporting by Evan Young, Aneeta Bhole and AAP
