JetBlue passengers endure tarmac delay of 7 hours in Hartford
The surprise snowstorm in the Northeast that killed at least three people and knocked out power to millions of homes also stranded a JetBlue plane on the tarmac for seven hours in Hartford, Conn., an ordeal passengers say left them without food, water or working toilets.
Flight 504 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Newark, N.J., was diverted to Bradley International Airport in Hartford because of bad weather. The plane landed about 1:30 p.m. but didn’t make it to the gate until about 9 p.m. for reasons that still aren’t clear, media reports say.
JetBlue posted this Twitter message during the long delay: “We can’t deplane the aircraft until it’s safe. Reports indicated unsafe ground conditions and unable to remote deplane.”
Frustrated passengers tweeted their plight in hopes of getting help. Orlando Sun-Sentinel sports writer Andrew Carter was on the flight and told the paper from the plane via cellphone: