ExpressJet stranding controversy rages

The fallout over last week's incident in which 47 passengers were stranded overnight on an ERJ-145 operated by ExpressJet Holdings continued yesterday, with House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (R-Minn.) claiming that more than 415 flights had "taxi-out times of three hours or more" in the US in the first half of 2009.

Continental Airlines Flight 2816, operated by ExpressJet, departed Houston around 9:30 p.m. last Friday and was scheduled to arrive at Minneapolis-St. Paul at midnight but owing to weather was diverted to Rochester [Minn.] International, where passengers were forced to remain aboard for more than 6 hr. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has asked the Dept. of Transportation general counsel to determine if any laws were violated (ATWOnline, Aug. 11).

Oberstar, joined by new Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), yesterday sent a letter to LaHood saying they shared "the passengers' frustration and outrage" and claiming "this incident is not isolated." They raised the possibility that "consumer protection" laws had been breached by ExpressJet or CO.

Beyond the general public uproar over the incident, airports are pushing back against ExpressJet's claim that it could not release the passengers because the RST terminal was closed and TSA security was not available for screening. Airports Council International-North America President Greg Principato lashed out at the airline in a posting on the organization's website, saying, "The story about passengers stuck on a regional jet. . .really has me angry."

He continued, "What angers me most is this: The airline involved blamed the airport, saying it was the middle of the night, the airport couldn't take care of the passengers, there were not TSA screeners, etc. This airport was and is ready to receive passengers in this situation. There were clean restrooms and vending machines available in the sterile area. The notion that the absence of TSA screeners caused this is also nonsense; the people could have been let off and remained in the secure area of the terminal."