Passengers Get Stuck On Tarmac For 6 Hours Amid Friday's Fog, Lightning
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - The fog is being blamed for an hours-long delay that became much longer than expected on Friday for passengers on board a Republic Airlines flight operating as United Express.
"I was sitting across the aisle from a pilot who was traveling as well and he told me in the beginning that it was three hours was the most they could keep passengers on a plane," said passenger Lisa Davis. "And we were stranded on that plane for seven hours."
The flight was diverted to Colorado Springs because of the fog at Denver International Airport Friday morning. Then it had to stay there because of lightning.
A spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Airport said the plane had plenty of room to taxi back to the terminal but a miscommunication by the airline kept it sitting there for hours.
Some of the 80 passengers said it was their worst travel problem ever. Others said it was obvious the crew was doing the best they could despite the situation.
"The best part of the whole thing was the attitude of the staff and our pilot was working for us," said passenger Jeremy Collins.
Passengers were stuck on the tarmac for more than six hours, and some told CBS4 partner KKTV they felt like they were treated like animals.
Some were taken on a bus to DIA so they could continue on their way. Others rebooked their flight.
