Fargo couple stranded in Maldives as war continues in Iran

MALDIVES (KVRR-KFGO) – A bucket list vacation for a Fargo couple has turned into a travel nightmare.

Jim and Jodi Spaeth are stranded on an island in Maldives.

The couple left Fargo on Feb. 19 for a 36-hour trip to Maldives in southeast Asia. They’re currently stranded with no way out because of the war in Iran.

“We feel very fortunate that we are safe where we are,” Jodi Spaeth said. “However, the fear of the unknown is what’s really hard…it’s really kind of scary.”

Traveling to and from Maldives typically requires stops in the Middle East.

Spaeth says the couple has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka. She says they’re scheduled to return home on Friday, but she’s not optimistic.