Imagine boarding a flight after a sunny vacation in Mexico, expecting to be back home in a few hours—and instead, you’re stuck on a plane all night long, unable to get off.
That’s exactly what happened to hundreds of Delta Air Lines passengers when their two international flights were diverted and held on the tarmac for hours on end in Montgomery, Alabama.
The passengers, who were flying from different cities in Mexico to Atlanta, ended up spending nearly 15 hours delayed and confined inside their aircraft due to weather-related chaos and logistical issues.
Thunderstorms Derail Plans and Divert Flights to a Smaller Airport
Severe storms sweeping across the Southeastern U.S. Thursday night caused unexpected diversions.
Both flights—one from Cabo San Lucas and another from Mexico City—were initially headed to Atlanta but couldn’t land safely due to the dangerous weather.
Instead, they were rerouted to Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama.
Here’s the catch: Montgomery isn’t equipped for processing international travelers.
And because there were no Customs and Border Protection staff available overnight, the planes were essentially stuck on the runway, unable to let passengers disembark.
Passengers Left Exhausted and Frustrated in Cramped Conditions
Christine Milliken, one of the many worn-out passengers on Flight 1828 from Cabo, described the situation as “frustrating” and “uncomfortable.”
She said she needed 12 hours of sleep just to recover afterward.
“We couldn’t get food or even extra drinks because it was an international flight,” she explained.
“There were hours of turbulence, circling the air, back and forth—it left me feeling so emotionally drained I almost cried.”
Her flight landed at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday night.
Passengers weren’t allowed to step off until around 5:15 a.m. Friday—nearly seven hours sitting on the tarmac.
Flight from Mexico City Hit the Same Wall of Problems
Another passenger, Alex Alvarez, had a similar nightmare while traveling on Delta Flight 599 from Mexico City.
“It was supposed to be a three-and-a-half-hour delay,” he said. “It turned into almost 20 hours.”
He recounted how passengers could see the plane looping on the flight tracker.
“Eventually, the pilot told us we were running low on fuel and had to land.
But even after landing, the crew was out of time—they needed a new pilot and crew to be sent from Atlanta.”
Basic Comforts Were Lacking After Long Waits
After hours on board, passengers were finally allowed off the planes, but it wasn’t smooth sailing from there.
Since the Montgomery airport gates weren’t designed to accommodate large aircraft like theirs, travelers had to walk across the tarmac to reach the terminal.
Once inside, they were held in a restricted area and could only access monitored restrooms.
In the morning, Delta provided them with some sandwiches and chips—but for most, it was too little, too late.
Passengers Call for Accountability as Delta Responds
Alvarez acknowledged the situation wasn’t entirely Delta’s fault, saying, “Montgomery’s a small airport. They didn’t have immigration staff or proper security.
But Delta dropped the ball in many ways.” He’s now pushing for a full refund for the whole ordeal.
Delta, in response, issued a statement of apology: “We fell short of how we aspire to serve and care for our customers amid thunderstorms in the Southeast US. We sincerely apologize for this experience.”
The airline also confirmed they would be issuing full refunds to affected travelers.
A Night No One on Board Will Forget Anytime Soon
While weather can’t be controlled, the lack of preparedness and support turned a rough situation into an all-night ordeal that many passengers say could have been handled better.
Whether it’s stronger contingency plans or better coordination with airports, travelers are hoping the airline learns from this bumpy ride.
And as for the passengers? They’ll likely be unpacking more than just their suitcases—they’ll be processing this travel tale for a while.