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Hundreds of passengers aboard two Delta Air Lines flights spent an uncomfortable night inside jets on the tarmac in Montgomery, Alabama, following an unexpected diversion due to adverse weather conditions. The flights, originating from Mexico and bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, were redirected after the weather around Atlanta proved unsuitable for landing.
The divergence presented problems at Montgomery Regional Airport, which lacks facilities for processing international travelers. The aircraft, carrying roughly 300 passengers, had to remain on the runway. A Delta spokesperson informed CNN, "We sincerely apologize to our customers for this experience. We fell short of how we aspire to serve and care for our customers amid thunderstorms in the Southeast U.S. Thursday evening. We are reaching out to each customer with a full refund of their booking."
Montgomery's airport and Customs and Border Protection eventually coordinated special arrangements, allowing deplaning to commence around 05:30 the next morning. Passengers endured discomfort as they awaited resolution, with flight attendants offering cookies and water. The overnight delay caused some passengers to miss connecting flights from Atlanta.
