Rochester airport manager disputes ExpressJet account of overnight tarmac delay

Steven Leqve, airport manager in Rochester, Minnesota, angrily disputed the official line from Continental Airlines regional carrierExpressJet that "due to the time of night the ground handler did not have the resources to allow the customers to deplane safely." In fact, according to Leqve, Delta Air Lines ground handlers on numerous occasions during the incident contacted Continental's flight dispatchers but their offers to assist the passengers were declined.

Rochester's airport is very experienced at handling flight diversions due to its very close proximity to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Leqve stated that airport staff were on duty and available as soon as they learned that the flight had been diverted there, and that seating, rest rooms and vending machines were also available throughout the night. It was ExpressJet's decision not to take advantage of the offers to assist, a decision that has put the airline on the front page of newspapers and websites nationwide. The stranded flight has even become major news on national television morning shows such as the CBS Morning Show.

Also according to the airport manager, "the terminal can handle 500 people, so I can't explain why they made the decision to stay on the tarmac. If it was an airport manager's decision those people would not have sat on that plane longer than two hours."

ExpressJet spokeswoman Kristy Nicholas said that passengers were deplaned at 6 a.m. after government security personnel (TSA) reported for duty. However Leqve disputes this as well since TSA agents start duty at 4:30 a.m. He also said that their arrival time to work is irrelevant as the airport could have deplaned the passengers hours earlier.

Continental Airlines is now offering the passengers a full refund for their flight as well as a voucher for a future flight.