L.A./Ontario International Airport denies blame in nine-hour delay
L.A./Ontario International Airport officials released a statement Thursday saying they had nothing to do with the decision to keep nearly 200 passengers on an airliner Monday morning for nine hours.
The statement said a TACA airliner, which was diverted to L.A./Ontario International Airport late Sunday due to fog at Los Angeles International Airport, kept passengers on the ground due to conflicts between the airline and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"The decision to deplane passengers from international arriving flights rests solely with the airline and the U.S. Customs & Border Protection. L.A./Ontario International Airport operations has no jurisdiction in these federal matters," according to a Los Angeles World Airports statement.
"LAWA officials believe that little is accomplished by continuing to fuel a controversy about 'who is to blame' between the airline and federal authorities. The bottom line is that the 191 people on board TACA Flight No. 670 were not provided proper customer care and service, as demonstrated by the fact that they remained on board the aircraft on the tarmac for over 9 hours."
The statement said a TACA airliner, which was diverted to L.A./Ontario International Airport late Sunday due to fog at Los Angeles International Airport, kept passengers on the ground due to conflicts between the airline and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"The decision to deplane passengers from international arriving flights rests solely with the airline and the U.S. Customs & Border Protection. L.A./Ontario International Airport operations has no jurisdiction in these federal matters," according to a Los Angeles World Airports statement.
"LAWA officials believe that little is accomplished by continuing to fuel a controversy about 'who is to blame' between the airline and federal authorities. The bottom line is that the 191 people on board TACA Flight No. 670 were not provided proper customer care and service, as demonstrated by the fact that they remained on board the aircraft on the tarmac for over 9 hours."
After arrival at Ontario, the plane was tentatively expected to
continue to LAX between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Monday, said airport officials.
Crew members provided water to passengers while they waited. A new crew was sent to the plane because the original crew had exceeded its allowed flying time.
Previous reports said police cars surrounded the plane on the tarmac in the early morning with two officers positioned outside to keep passengers on board, but LAWA officials said that was not the case.
"Airport police did not surround the aircraft to prevent people from 'entering or leaving.' At 3:59 a.m. many vehicles responded to Flight No. 670 on the tarmac because of a minimum of three reports from passengers of medical illnesses," according to a statement from LAWA.
TACA officials on Tuesday blamed refueling delays, fog and a lack of customs staffers for grounding the passengers at Ontario, according to The Associated Press.
The explanation came a day after customs officials said the airline did not ask for permission to let the passengers off the plane.
The plane sat on the tarmac while TACA and customs officials unsuccessfully tried to resolve their issues, the AP reported.
"It is necessary for the responsible parties to review the details of what occurred on Flight No. 670 and ensure that this does not occur again," according to the LAWA statement.
lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com
Crew members provided water to passengers while they waited. A new crew was sent to the plane because the original crew had exceeded its allowed flying time.
Previous reports said police cars surrounded the plane on the tarmac in the early morning with two officers positioned outside to keep passengers on board, but LAWA officials said that was not the case.
"Airport police did not surround the aircraft to prevent people from 'entering or leaving.' At 3:59 a.m. many vehicles responded to Flight No. 670 on the tarmac because of a minimum of three reports from passengers of medical illnesses," according to a statement from LAWA.
TACA officials on Tuesday blamed refueling delays, fog and a lack of customs staffers for grounding the passengers at Ontario, according to The Associated Press.
The explanation came a day after customs officials said the airline did not ask for permission to let the passengers off the plane.
The plane sat on the tarmac while TACA and customs officials unsuccessfully tried to resolve their issues, the AP reported.
"It is necessary for the responsible parties to review the details of what occurred on Flight No. 670 and ensure that this does not occur again," according to the LAWA statement.
lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com
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