logo
Delta flight endured over six hours on Georgia tarmac

Delta flight endured over six hours on Georgia tarmac

Daily Mail​4 hours ago
Passengers aboard a cross-country Delta flight endured over six grueling hours trapped on a Georgia tarmac with no functioning toilets onboard. A flight bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was suddenly diverted to Augusta Regional Airport on Friday due to the heavy rain and severe thunderstorms that swept across the state the day before, WSB-TV 2 News reported . But instead of their journey ending upon landing, travelers found themselves stranded on the runway for hours, unable to leave.
'A disheveled mess to say the least,' Pat McCormack , a passenger on the flight, told the outlet. 'There was no water on the plane,' he added. 'The toilets weren't working.' After nearly seven hours sitting motionless on the ground, passengers were finally allowed to disembark. However, with no plan in place, they were unprepared for the unexpected landing at Augusta - and only one person was available to answer their questions about what to do next.
To request reimbursement, travelers must complete a form using the information the airline emailed to them. But even after submitting the form, McCormack said he received only a $200 SkyMiles credit - a settlement he considers inadequate for the chaotic ordeal. Delta has made headlines in recent months for a series of unusual travel mishaps - including a recent incident where an employee filmed a sexual video of himself on a child's Peppa Pig iPad he found left on a plane in New York City.
The unidentified man was seen [expletive] in a video that was uploaded to the iCloud account attached to one of Brooke and Tony Brewer's children's iPads, a complaint viewed by Daily Mail revealed. The man was seen fondling his [expletive] while wearing a lanyard that contained a red Delta ribbon and making facial expressions at the camera, screenshots of the video in the complaint showed. He also allegedly attempted to access the iPad's iTunes account and reportedly hacked into the family's Amazon account, creating a profile named '[expletive].'
On July 30, passengers on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam feared for their lives as the plane suddenly dropped more than 1,500 feet before making an emergency landing . At least 25 people were injured as Delta flight 56 was diverted to Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport just two hours into its eight-hour journey. Delta confirmed in a statement that severe turbulence rocked the aircraft, with witnesses describing how its impact threw people into the air as beverage carts crashed around inside the cabin.
Data from flight tracking site FlightAware showed that the plane plummeted over 1,600 feet in an 85 second span, with passengers saying that there 'was a moment where we thought we were going down.' The flight then continued for over an hour after the terrifying drop before landing safely. Last month, Delta sparked an internet uproar after allegedly cancelling a flight from Florida due to 'ice on the runway' as temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
The bizarre situation emerged when a woman headed from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was alerted her flight had been pushed back an entire day. She then reached out to the airline to ask about getting a reimbursement for her hotel room that night. Her request was denied because the cancelation was 'weather related,' according to a Reddit post shared by the flier's cousin after the fact.
A Delta agent told the customer the flight was called off 'due to a deicing situation, which means the runway was too slippery' for takeoff, as shown in a message exchange. This 'deicing situation' was pertaining to the runway in Orlando - where the heat was scorching. In response to the claim, the customer said: 'It is 95 degrees in Orlando and 84 degrees in New York City.'
According to AirAdvisor , airlines in the US do not have to financially help their passengers when a flight gets cancelled because of the weather. They are only required to either rebook the flight or provide a full ticket refund. Delta has since emailed affected passengers with details on compensation and reimbursement.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Expert: Things you should never touch in an airport
Expert: Things you should never touch in an airport

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Expert: Things you should never touch in an airport

Published: | Updated: Summer travel is in full swing, and airports across America are busier than ever with nearly 3 million passengers flying every day. Travel, especially in crowded environments like airports and airplanes, increases the potential for exposure to viruses, particularly those that spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. Common viruses people are most at risk of encountering during air travel include respiratory viruses (influenza, Covid-19 and r hinoviruses, which cause the common cold) and norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea. However, more serious illnesses, including measles, are increasingly becoming a threat as international travelers and unvaccinated Americans move through airports. In a bid to keep travelers as healthy as possible, one expert is warning of the spots in the airport and on the airplane that should be approached with care. Dr Darin Detwiler, who previously served as a public health expert for the FDA , told the Daily Mail that air travel is a risky endeavor with 'people unknowingly entering an invisible battlefield of infectious threats'. However, Dr Detwiler said 'there is some good news,' adding certain habits can protect against getting sick and ruining a vacation. 'By taking strategic precautions at every stage of your journey - from your ride to the airport to the moment you retrieve your luggage - you can dramatically reduce your risk of infection.' Be Uber alert Your exposure to germs begins before you step into the terminal, Dr Detwiler said. 'Rideshares, taxis and airport shuttles can be incubators for illness, often lacking proper sanitation and ventilation between passengers,' he explained. To maximize safety, he recommends disinfecting high touch surfaces, such as seatbelt buckles, door handles and touchscreen TVs, with hand sanitizer or cleansing wipes. Opening the window can also 'improve airflow and reduce airborne virus concentration.' Meanwhile, Dr Detwiler recommends keeping your hands away from your face as your eyes, nose and mouth are direct entry points for pathogens. Security bins are dirtier than toilets Security checkpoints are some of the dirtiest areas in an airport, Dr Detwiler warns. A 2018 study found that the plastic trays used at airport security checkpoints harbored more germs than the airport toilets. Researchers took eight samples from the trays used at the Helsinki airport over the course of three weeks. When the results came back, they found that half of the samples carried some kind of respiratory disease, including influenza A, rhinovirus, adenovirus and coronavirus. In comparison, viruses were not detected in most of the samples collected from toilets. The scientists said this may be due to people paying particular attention to hand hygiene when in the bathroom. 'Much like old days when public pay phones were the most handled (and contaminated) surfaces, today those plastic security bins harbor more respiratory viruses than public toilets,' Dr Detwiler told the Daily Mail in response to the findings. To prevent the spread of germs in the security area, he recommends using hand sanitizer immediately after touching security bins, conveyor belts or fingerprint scanners. With millions of travelers from all over the world passing through airports each day, Dr Detwiler said terminals are high-risk areas for airborne illnesses like measles, flu and RSV. Airport terminals, as large, enclosed spaces with high traffic, can experience poor air quality due to various factors like emissions from vehicles and aircraft. And with millions of people breathing out potentially infectious droplets, there is a high chance of pathogens spreading. For this reason, the health expert said wearing a face mask is a good way to protect yourself. He recommends KN95 and N95 masks, as both are designed to filter out at least 95 percent of particles. If you don't feel comfortable wearing a mask all the time, focus on wearing one in crowded areas to maximize safety, 'particularly at security, near gate seating and in restrooms,' Dr Detwiler said. Other tips include maintaining your distance from anyone visibly ill (especially in boarding lines), using your phone instead of self-check-in kiosks and shared touch-screens, and staying hydrated. 'Dry air suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection,' he explains. 'So it's best to keep a drink with you at all times.' However, be wary of public drinking fountains as the dispenser buttons were one of the dirtiest surfaces in airport terminals, with 1,240 colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria. Bathroom stall locks, in comparison, had 70 CFU. If you want to your take safety protocols up a notch, Dr Detwiler adds, 'you could consider wearing disposable gloves around the terminal, but remember to remove them safely and sanitize afterward.' Beware of the buffets in airport lounges The expert said premium airport lounges may offer a quieter atmosphere, but they're not immune from contamination, 'especially when it comes to shared food stations and high-touch surfaces.' He advises avoiding self-serve buffets and opting for packaged or made-to-order meals instead. He also recommends disinfecting tables and seating areas before eating. The bathrooms and shower facilities in airport lounges are also riddled with germs, so he always uses a napkin or paper towel to open bathroom doors and touch water faucets. Boarding the plane and flying Once on the plane, you're packed into a small space and exposed to an exponential amount of droplets and pathogens. While Dr Detwiler said an aircraft's High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters remove 99.9 percent of airborne particles, including bacteria and viruses, the biggest risk is proximity to other passengers, especially those coughing or sneezing. The former FDA employee, who is also an ardent traveler, said he always picks a window seat to reduce encounters with passers-by. He also always keeps his air vent open and pointed slightly downward to 'create an airflow barrier.' Before taking his seat, he uses sanitizing wipes to clean high-touch areas, including the tray table, armrests, seatbelt buckle and touchscreens. One 2015 study found that tray tables were the dirtiest spots on a plane. Results showed they had 2,155 CFU per square inch, far more than the bathroom flush button (265 CFU), overhead air vent (285 CFU) and seatbelt buckle (230 CFU). One of Dr Detwiler's biggest no-nos while flying is using the seatback pockets because, he says, they are rarely disinfected and may harbor bacteria. Arrival and post-flight precautions Think you're safe once you've landed? Think again. The doctor revealed the baggage claim area, customs and ground transportation all present new risks. Baggage claim belts come into contact with thousands of suitcases and hands, making them potential areas for bacteria to gather. Studies have also shown that suitcases - particularly their wheels and bases - can carry significant amounts of bacteria, sometimes exceeding levels found on surfaces like public toilet seats. Plus, 'exhaustion can make you more vulnerable as you are less alert and it is easy to let your guard down'. To keep your guard up, he recommends sanitizing your hands after collecting luggage, as your 'bag has been tossed around and handled by multiple people, moving along on conveyor belts, trolleys and cargo holds.' He also suggests keeping your mask on in customs and baggage claim as these areas are still crowded with travelers. After returning home or arriving at a hotel, shower and change into clean clothes as soon as possible, especially after long-haul flights.

Delta flight endured over six hours on Georgia tarmac
Delta flight endured over six hours on Georgia tarmac

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Delta flight endured over six hours on Georgia tarmac

Passengers aboard a cross-country Delta flight endured over six grueling hours trapped on a Georgia tarmac with no functioning toilets onboard. A flight bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was suddenly diverted to Augusta Regional Airport on Friday due to the heavy rain and severe thunderstorms that swept across the state the day before, WSB-TV 2 News reported . But instead of their journey ending upon landing, travelers found themselves stranded on the runway for hours, unable to leave. 'A disheveled mess to say the least,' Pat McCormack , a passenger on the flight, told the outlet. 'There was no water on the plane,' he added. 'The toilets weren't working.' After nearly seven hours sitting motionless on the ground, passengers were finally allowed to disembark. However, with no plan in place, they were unprepared for the unexpected landing at Augusta - and only one person was available to answer their questions about what to do next. To request reimbursement, travelers must complete a form using the information the airline emailed to them. But even after submitting the form, McCormack said he received only a $200 SkyMiles credit - a settlement he considers inadequate for the chaotic ordeal. Delta has made headlines in recent months for a series of unusual travel mishaps - including a recent incident where an employee filmed a sexual video of himself on a child's Peppa Pig iPad he found left on a plane in New York City. The unidentified man was seen [expletive] in a video that was uploaded to the iCloud account attached to one of Brooke and Tony Brewer's children's iPads, a complaint viewed by Daily Mail revealed. The man was seen fondling his [expletive] while wearing a lanyard that contained a red Delta ribbon and making facial expressions at the camera, screenshots of the video in the complaint showed. He also allegedly attempted to access the iPad's iTunes account and reportedly hacked into the family's Amazon account, creating a profile named '[expletive].' On July 30, passengers on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam feared for their lives as the plane suddenly dropped more than 1,500 feet before making an emergency landing . At least 25 people were injured as Delta flight 56 was diverted to Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport just two hours into its eight-hour journey. Delta confirmed in a statement that severe turbulence rocked the aircraft, with witnesses describing how its impact threw people into the air as beverage carts crashed around inside the cabin. Data from flight tracking site FlightAware showed that the plane plummeted over 1,600 feet in an 85 second span, with passengers saying that there 'was a moment where we thought we were going down.' The flight then continued for over an hour after the terrifying drop before landing safely. Last month, Delta sparked an internet uproar after allegedly cancelling a flight from Florida due to 'ice on the runway' as temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The bizarre situation emerged when a woman headed from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was alerted her flight had been pushed back an entire day. She then reached out to the airline to ask about getting a reimbursement for her hotel room that night. Her request was denied because the cancelation was 'weather related,' according to a Reddit post shared by the flier's cousin after the fact. A Delta agent told the customer the flight was called off 'due to a deicing situation, which means the runway was too slippery' for takeoff, as shown in a message exchange. This 'deicing situation' was pertaining to the runway in Orlando - where the heat was scorching. In response to the claim, the customer said: 'It is 95 degrees in Orlando and 84 degrees in New York City.' According to AirAdvisor , airlines in the US do not have to financially help their passengers when a flight gets cancelled because of the weather. They are only required to either rebook the flight or provide a full ticket refund. Delta has since emailed affected passengers with details on compensation and reimbursement.

The truth about why tourists are leaving Las Vegas
The truth about why tourists are leaving Las Vegas

Telegraph

time4 hours ago

  • Telegraph

The truth about why tourists are leaving Las Vegas

While most of us Vegas regulars have long assumed that Sin City is immortal, viral videos on social media are apparently telling a different story. Over on YouTube, there are dozens of clips of seemingly empty scenes on the Strip, as influencers gawp into the camera and proclaim that the party is truly over. Can it really be that Vegas is emptying out, and falling from favour? The official statistics suggest that, at the very least, there is a downward trend at play. Numbers from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (the guys who coined the 'What happens in Vegas' slogan) show tourism is down 6.5 per cent since last year, with a marked slump since April. As you might expect, gambling revenues have dwindled too, with a 2.9 per cent year-on-year drop across the sector – enough to wipe some $600 million from casino revenues this year. If you concentrate purely on the Strip casinos that depend almost exclusively on out-of-towners, the drop is even bigger at 3.9 per cent. Some claim it's down to the general squeeze of disposable income, with surveys showing a drop in overall consumer confidence across the States. Naturally, anti-Trump types have been quick to jump on any evidence that the decline could be partly the fault of the White House – and when it comes to one particular measure they may well have a point. According to LVCVA figures, Canadians make up around 3 per cent of Vegas visitors, with 1.4 million making the trip last year. Yet one year later, the data shows that more Canadians are thinking twice about crossing the border, perhaps due to the President's fiery rhetoric towards his northern neighbour. Recent figures from Vegas's Harry Reid Airport show that arrivals on Air Canada jets are down 5 per cent year-on-year, while passenger numbers for the low-cost Canadian carrier Flair have plummeted 55 per cent. Not the sort of thing you want to see in an already tight economy. Where does it all leave Vegas? The overall decline is real, but it isn't as bad as some headlines suggest, says casino expert John Mehaffey, who runs the Vegas Advantage website. 'The slowdown has been more noticeable at the lower end of the market, but luxury resorts appear broadly level with last year,' he says. 'In any event, Vegas is always a bit slower in the summer.' As for those viral videos showing the supposed death of Vegas, he suspects some of the creators have been disingenuous in their tactics. 'I saw one picture of empty side walks in front of Caesars Palace, but you could see from the position of the sun that the photo was taken in the early part of the morning,' he says. @chasasworld ♬ original sound - chasasworld On the other hand, plenty of social media users are convinced they've found the real reason that fewer people are visiting Las Vegas – rip-off prices. In June, a humble bottle of water briefly became a social media sensation, when one stunned traveller revealed that it had been priced at a shocking $26 in the mini-bar at the iconic Bellagio hotel. The story was picked up across the American media. On the popular discussion website Reddit, meanwhile, forums about Las Vegas have descended into a strange game of Top Trumps, with users competing to see who can find the most excessive examples of Vegas pricing during their visit. 'I paid $14 for a bottle of Sprite and $32 for chicken tenders,' posted one user, sounding strangely proud about the whole experience. Of course, steep prices are nothing new in Sin City. But while the world's entertainment capital has never been cheap, the data shows that prices have jumped disproportionately since the pandemic, with a 50 per cent rise in the average hotel room price since 2019. Fees and charges have also spiked, as casinos seek to make up for lost revenues during the shutdown. As Vegas regulars will know, it isn't hard to avoid the worst of the pricing – provided you do your homework in advance. As a rule of thumb, I always advise anyone staying on the Strip to do as much as their discretionary spending (things like refreshments and snacks) outside of the casino resort, given that most are notorious for high prices. Another option is to get off the Strip altogether and opt for a downtown casino. Fremont Street might lack some of the extravagance of the Bellagio, but it's certainly no less vibrant. Not only are the prices much cheaper (and the odds marginally more generous), but it's a much shorter walk to get to independent restaurants and bars that cost a fraction of those on the Strip. Some might say that penny-pinching goes against the Vegas spirit. But my attitude has always been the less money you spend unnecessarily – for example, on a $10 coke from a casino concession store – the more you have to spend on the genuinely exciting stuff, whether that's playing the tables or seeing one of the shows. Will the falling visitor numbers force Vegas to change tack on its premium prices? There are already signs that some casinos are doing just that, says John Mehaffey. This summer, the Resorts World hotel and casino waived some of its charges (including the hated resort fee) in a bid to attract more visitors. As for what the future holds beyond that, Sin City will have plenty on its plate dealing with everything from Gen Z's famous aversion to alcohol to the liberalisation of sports betting across much of the States. Expect the push towards big sporting events like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 to continue at full speed, given they don't rely on gamblers or drinkers to make money. All in all, it seems the decline of Vegas has been exaggerated. This glorious city has seen off a slump many times before, and you can bet your bottom dollar it will do the same again.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store