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A viewer's tip led 5 On Your Side to investigate why passengers on an American Airlines flight from Chicago spent more than an hour waiting to get off their plane after landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport overnight.
The flight landed at 11:44 p.m. but passengers did not deplane until approximately 1:20 a.m. Another aircraft also spent more than an hour taxiing before reaching its gate.
RDU initially pointed to severe weather as the cause of the delays. To verify that explanation, 5 On Your Side reviewed weather data from overnight.
While thunderstorms had moved through the area earlier in the evening, there was a lightning strike within five miles of RDU at 12:08 a.m. According to WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell, conditions had largely cleared by about 12:15 a.m.
RDU says lightning policies governing ramp operations are determined by each airline rather than the airport itself.
American Airlines told 5 On Your Side that severe weather Monday evening forced a ramp closure at RDU, halting all activity on the airfield and preventing crews from safely loading and unloading baggage or servicing aircraft at the gate. The airline said the duration of a ramp closure depends on weather conditions and when it is safe to resume operations. It did not answer 5 On Your Side’s specific questions about why it took more than an hour for passengers to deplane after the weather had cleared. But explained, that the prolonged ramp closure also prompted air traffic control to issue a ground stop for arriving flights. Once operations resumed, the airline said its crews worked through the backlog to safely bring arriving aircraft to their gates as quickly as possible.
What are your rights during a tarmac delay?
Whether a delay is caused by weather or something within an airline's control, passengers still have certain protections under federal rules.
If your delay is weather-related, airlines generally are not required to provide meal vouchers, hotel accommodations or financial compensation. However, they must provide:
-Food and drinking water within two hours of the delay, when safe and practical.
-Working lavatories.
-Medical attention if needed.
-Regular updates on the status of the delay.
If the delay is not weather-related, those same protections still apply. In addition, passengers on domestic flights generally must be given the opportunity to deplane before a tarmac delay reaches three hours, and four hours on international flights, unless the pilot determines it would be unsafe or air traffic control advises against it.
If a disruption is within an airline's control, some carriers may also choose to provide meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or travel credits, although federal law does not require them.
Earlier this month, passengers caught in similar lightning-related delays at RDU told 5 On Your Side they received vouchers from American Airlines ranging from $50 to $150. Because those decisions are made at the airline's discretion, consumer advocates say it is always worth asking whether assistance is available after a significant delay.
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