JetBlue/American Airlines Nightmare Ordeals. JetBlue and American Airlines passengers were subjected to nightmare ordeals on Saturday, October 29, 2011, when their flights were stranded for hours on the tarmac at Hartford, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport after being diverted from New York-area airports. At least three JetBlue flights and one American Airlines plane were stranded thanks […]
JetBlue/American Airlines Nightmare Ordeals. JetBlue and American Airlines passengers were subjected to nightmare ordeals on Saturday, October 29, 2011, when their flights were stranded for hours on the tarmac at Hartford, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport after being diverted from New York-area airports. At least three JetBlue flights and one American Airlines plane were stranded thanks to an early snowstorm that hit the northeast. As a result, those aboard the aircraft, and possibly passengers on other carriers’ flights, went without food, water, and even toilets, for hours before they were finally allowed to disembark.
If you were among the passengers stranded for hours on a JetBlue, American Airlines, or any other airline the weekend of October 29, 2011, you may be entitled to compensation. Personal injury lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP are investigating these incidents, and want to hear from any airline passenger stuck on the tarmac for hours. If you were trapped on a JetBlue, American Airlines, or any other flight, we urge you to contact us immediately for your free lawsuit evaluation by completing our online form or calling us at 1-800-LAW-FIRM (1-800-968-7529).
On Saturday, October 29, 2011, the East Coast of the U.S. was hit with a freak fall snowstorm. Airports up and down the northeast were closed, and hundreds of flights were diverted. Hundreds of passengers are known to have been stranded on several JetBlue Flights and one American Airlines Flight that were diverted to Bradley airport in Hartford, Connecticut. According to a report from the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s aviation consumer protection division opened an investigation into the JetBlue and American Airlines delays, and both carriers could be looking at big fines. Passengers on other carriers may have experienced similar ordeals.
According to a report from the Associated Press, JetBlue has confirmed via email that “that six of its planes, carrying a total of about 700 passengers, were diverted to Hartford as a result of a ‘confluence of events’ including equipment failures at Newark and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport that prevented planes from landing in low visibility.” JetBlue would not confirm how long passengers on any flight were stranded on the tarmac at Bradley. “The toilets were backed up. When you flushed, nothing would happen,” JetBlue Flight 504 passenger Andrew Carter, a reporter for the Sun Sentinel of Florida, told the Associated Press. Carter said his plane sat on the Tarmac between around 1:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. At one point, firefighters later boarded the plane to evacuate a paraplegic who was having health issues.
Passengers on at least one American Airlines plane headed to New York’s JFK after taking off from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris told the Associated Press that it was diverted to Connecticut, landing at Bradley around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Passengers were reportedly unable to leave the aircraft for hours. An American Airlines spokesperson blamed the problem on U.S. Customs, but passengers said they were given a variety of excuses by the crew, including “the need to refuel and de-ice and the airport’s limited capacity for handling international flights.”
Passengers on other airlines may have experienced similar delays. Kate Hanni, executive editor for FlyersRights.org, told the Associated Press she received calls and emails from passengers and worried family members regarding at least four flights that were stranded on the tarmac for up to 10 hours. According to the JetBlue spokesperson, 17 other flights with different carriers were also diverted to Bradley on October 29.
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).