Passengers on two Delta Airlines flights, one originating from Los Cabos, experienced a prolonged wait inside their aircraft after both flights were diverted to Montgomery Regional Airport, Alabama, on the night of April 10. The diversion was caused by a storm that prevented landing at the destination airport, Atlanta.
One of the flights originated from Los Cabos and the other from Mexico City. In both cases, passengers on the two flights remained on the ground for hours without being able to disembark, as Montgomery Airport does not have Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, a requirement for international flights.
Flight 1828, originating from Los Cabos, was carrying 150 passengers. The aircraft took off at 5:17 p.m. and arrived in Montgomery at 10:34 p.m., but passengers were not able to leave the plane until 5:23 a.m. the following day. A similar situation occurred with the 147 passengers on Flight 599 from Mexico City, who were also detained until the early hours of Friday.
During that time, passengers on both flights received only water and crackers, with no other food options or access to the airport. At dawn, entry to the building was finally allowed, under police supervision and after special coordination with federal authorities.
Delta Airlines acknowledged the difficulties faced by passengers on both flights and publicly apologized for the incident. The airline explained that the storm prevented landing in Birmingham, the closest alternative, and that Montgomery was the only viable option.
It was also reported that the crew had exceeded their legal duty hours, further complicating the handling of the situation. Despite this, it was confirmed that all passengers on both flights were subsequently treated and a full refund was offered for the inconvenience.
Source: tribunademexico
