Wed, Aug 12, 2009
Both Say Airline Has Final Say On When Passengers May
Deplane
Both TSA and DOT lay the blame for 47 passengers being stuck
on a 50 seat ExpressJet regional jet overnight on the airline,
saying it has the final authority in determining when passengers
may or may not be allowed to get off an aircraft. The plane was
operating under a codeshare with Continental Airlines.
Under the title "Mythbusters", TSA said on its website
"Airlines, not TSA, make the decision on whether or not to deplane
passengers if there is a delay or diversion. TSA does not prohibit
airlines deplaning passengers and re-boarding without screening as
long as they don't exit past the checkpoint and leave the secure
area, regardless of whether or not TSA officers are conducting
screening operations. In addition, TSA has the ability to recall
security officers and resume screening passengers after hours at
the request of an airline or airport."
The DOT issued a similar statement on its website.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said DOT plans to look into the
incident. "I have asked the Department of Transportation’s
General Counsel to look into whether Continental Airlines or its
regional partner Express Jet Airlines has violated any laws in
connection with the lengthy tarmac delay on their
Houston-Minneapolis flight over the weekend in which passengers
were stuck in a small plane for seven hours. While we don’t
yet have all the facts, this incident as reported is very
troubling. We are investigating the incident and will do whatever
we can to make sure passengers are not subjected to such situations
in the future."
The flight was originally diverted due to weather at
Minneapolis, its original destination, and landed at Rochester, MN.
When continuing the flight would have meant a violation of crew
rest rules, the plane sat on the tarmac from about 2300 to 0600
until a new crew could be brought in to continue the flight.
ExpressJet said the safety of the passengers and federal laws were
the determining factors in keeping the passengers on the plane
overnight.
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