ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) passengers endured an overnight ordeal when two international flights bound for Atlanta (ATL) were diverted to Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) due to severe weather conditions.
Both flights from Mexico remained grounded with passengers unable to disembark for nearly seven hours due to customs restrictions.
Photo: By Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79819656Delta Passenger Stuck Overnight
The incident affected Delta flight 1828 from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and flight 599 from Mexico City International Airport (MEX), which landed in Montgomery around 10:30 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. respectively.
With Montgomery lacking proper U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, international passengers were forced to remain onboard overnight, Viewfromthewing flagged.
The situation began Thursday evening when severe thunderstorms featuring lightning and high winds made landing in Atlanta impossible for the two international flights.
With safety concerns paramount, both aircraft were diverted to Montgomery Regional Airport, which serves as a backup facility but lacks 24-hour customs capabilities.
Passengers on flight 599 from Mexico City (MEX) remained confined to the aircraft from approximately 10:20 p.m. until 5:15 a.m., while those on flight 1828 from Cabo San Lucas (SJD) endured similar conditions from about 10:30 p.m. until 5:23 a.m. During this extended confinement, passenger comfort measures were minimal, with only cookies and water provided to those stranded.
Photo: By Colin Brown Photography – https://www.flickr.com/photos/145232442@N02/48434296571/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81314997Passenger Experience and Aftermath
The extended tarmac delay stemmed from international entry requirements that prevented passengers from entering the United States without proper customs clearance.
Montgomery Regional Airport, primarily serving domestic flights, lacked the necessary Customs and Border Protection staff to process international arrivals during overnight hours.
Early the following morning, authorities finally allowed passengers to disembark into a restricted terminal area with controlled restroom access and security monitoring. This arrangement, while providing some relief, came nearly seven hours after landing and raised questions about why such accommodations weren’t made available sooner.
The incident created operational complications beyond passenger discomfort. Flight crews exceeded their legally permitted duty hours during the extended delay, requiring Delta to arrange for replacement crews before the flights could continue to their final destination in Atlanta.
Delta Air Lines issued an apology, acknowledging they had “fallen short” of their customer service standards in handling the situation.
The airline explained that their preferred diversion airport, Birmingham (BHM), was experiencing similar severe weather conditions that made landing there equally problematic.
Delta has offered refunds to affected passengers as compensation for the ordeal. The airline noted that while they typically try to avoid extended tarmac delays, this situation was complicated by the international nature of the flights and the lack of customs facilities at the diversion airport.
Photo: Colin Brown | FlickrSimilar Incident
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stepped into an unexpected role during a delayed United Airlines (UA) flight in December 2024, distributing snacks to passengers as they waited to depart Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) for Traverse City, Michigan.
The unusual scene unfolded aboard United Express flight UA440, operated by regional carrier GoJet when Buttigieg walked the aisle of the aircraft with a wicker basket of snacks. The secretary, dressed casually in sneakers and a light blue sweater, appeared to enjoy his temporary position as a cabin crew member while some passengers showed surprise at his actions.
A fellow traveler documented the moment on Instagram, capturing Buttigieg’s good-humored approach to the flight delay. The social media post highlighted the secretary’s approachable demeanor during what would typically be a frustrating experience for travelers.
The CRJ-550 aircraft experienced a significant delay of one hour and 24 minutes on the ground. Despite this extended wait, the flight crew managed to recover some time during the journey, ultimately arriving in Traverse City approximately one hour behind schedule.
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