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Passengers Trapped Overnight on Plane

AOL News
posted: 6 HOURS 2 MINUTES AGO
comments: 969
filed under: National News
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(Aug. 10) -- It was supposed to be a routine flight from Houston to Minneapolis. But 47 passengers ended up enduring a travel "nightmare" after a storm diverted their jet and the airline forced them to spend the night inside the plane sitting on a tarmac, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
The Continental Airlines flight left Houston around 9:30 p.m. Friday and was supposed to land in Minneapolis at about midnight. But the flight crew announced the plane would have to land in Rochester, Minn., because of bad weather, passenger Link Christin told the newspaper.
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And there the plane sat. And sat. And sat. Passengers weren't allowed into the terminal until dawn. "This was a sardine can, with a single row of seats on one side of the plane and two rows of seats on the other," Christin said. "And they've got about 50 people inside, including babies, for the whole night. It was a nightmare.''
ExpressJet Airlines, which operated the flight for Continental, told the newspaper that the flight crew had reached its maximum number of work hours, so a fresh crew had to be brought in. Allowing the passengers to sleep in the terminal "was not provided as an option by ground services personnel at the airport,'' ExpressJet said.
ExpressJet said passengers could not get off the plane because airport security screeners had gone off duty, according to KARE-TV, Channel 11 in Minneapolis-St. Paul. But officials at Rochester International Airport told the station the passengers could have stayed on the secure side of the terminal, and that it was the carrier's decision to keep them on the plane.
Passengers were finally allowed off the plane around dawn and were offered one beverage, Christin said. They were then put back on the same plane at 9:30 a.m., even though the restrooms didn't work. The plane landed in Minneapolis at 11 a.m.
ExpressJet said it apologized for the incident.
The Associated Press reports that Continental is offering refunds and vouchers to the passengers. For more on the story, read the Star Tribune.
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2009-08-10 10:42:51
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RenoPostman

12:10 AMAug 11 2009

Princess of meats? salami,bologna, mortadella? just because you are still a size 22 doesn't mean it is a good thing. I'll bet David is your dog, a sloppy english bulldog at that!

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Flamethrowinmike

12:10 AMAug 11 2009

***You wore a 22 in college! Holt crap, "David" is a hero!You know old Davey can't hear the stereo,;)

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(0)

Builditjose

12:09 AMAug 11 2009

In my book that is kidnapping. If the law refuses to act on it then the people reserve the right to act. Perhaps a good old fashion revolution should march on congress to change the laws that protect criminals from honest law abiding citizens. Or perhaps a march should be made to the airline corporate headquaters to tar and feather the board and CEO.

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paymyownway

12:09 AMAug 11 2009

HIP HIP HOORAY, FOR PRINCESS OF MEATS! So glad she is filthy rich, and has great sex. Seriously. Now princess....you're on the east coast, right? Well, I hope to hell you never have an aneurism, stroke, embolism, etc. Another immediate member of my family is a neurosurgeon who HATES people like you. So, should you ever show up with a problem (kid/husband/self) don't pull that fake rich crap. He's loaded beyond what you could ever achieve and actually doesn't sell meat for a living. He's a surgeon. ......................Told me a story a couple years ago. He (surgeon) was riding his bicycle to his office as USUAL. A lady in a Mercedes almost hit him, and then called HIM TRASH and told him to get off the street and go crawn in his box. Well, after arriving he went upstairs to his office. Guess what? The wynch was sitting in his waiting area! He then went to his private office and looked out the window. He saw her car parked incorrectly, and called security. He had ...

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Resortexec

12:09 AMAug 11 2009

AS long as the plane is attached to the walkway the flight attendants don't get paid. Once the door is closed and the plane is four feet away from the walkway the clock starts ticking and the crew gets paid.

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CoExGal

12:08 AMAug 11 2009

My post got cut off. Here is the rest of it:So back to the gate they go, resulting in more delays, as they then have to wait for another crew to come in. There's a lot more than meets the eye when you are in the airline business. And it inconveniences the flight crew as well; not just the passengers.

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ManitouHarbor

12:08 AMAug 11 2009

"Those who are willing to give up freedom for safety will soon find they have no freedom at all" It's time for another rebellion.

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Zaphod4prz

12:07 AMAug 11 2009

Princessofmeats11:58 PMAug 11 2009David and I have a passionate sex life that you could only DREAM about, dear (and I'm quite sure dreaming is as close as you've come to the real thing since the Ford Administration). Unlike many of you obese, grease-stained slobs David and I keep ourselves in TOP shape physically and I maintain the same dress size I had in COLLEGE (another unknown place for most of you).***You wore a 22 in college! Holt crap, "David" is a hero!

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Flamethrowinmike

12:06 AMAug 11 2009

Princessofmeatcurtains is obviously a complete nut job.

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ManitouHarbor

12:06 AMAug 11 2009

This mentality is what 9/11 has done to us. The fact that we even have to worry about letting people off the plane tells me the terrorists have won!

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It was supposed to be a routine flight from Houston to Minneapolis. But 47 passengers ended up enduring a travel nightmare after a storm diverted their jet and the airline forced them to spend nine hours sitting on a tarmac, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.