Denver Blizzard: AA Flight 1860 stuck for 8 Hours. Returns to gate. Airport is now closed.

[KeepItReal]

From Denver local news talking to a passenger on board the plane via cell:

Passengers on this 7:30 AM flight to Miami almost got out of Denver before todays blizzard shut everything down.

After already having to offload passengers due to weight issues, they get the plane de-iced, at which point the de-icing truck got stuck in front of the plane. This full flight to Miami apparently just sat out there on the tarmac.

The passenger said there was only water given to the passengers and there were apparently 24 muffins (but they were not distributed - probably lest a riot ensue).

The passenger's last words to the TV station as the plane finally returned to their gate at 3:30 PM MDT was "Tell everyone out there that according to American Airlines, we are not able to catch an available flight until Sunday and we are on our own."

Denver's airport is closed and the main road out of the airport (Pena Blvd) has also been shut.

[xultar]

1. I always pack food and extra drawers in my briefcase. You never know with these fuckers now a day

[KeepItReal]

4. I feel for the folks on that flight they were so close to getting out

Now their whole holidays are probably screwed. They actually won't be able to hop an available flight until the 25th.

Since it is a weather issue (you know they are not gonna blame the stuck de-icing truck) the airline aint obligated to do anything more than put them on the next available flight with seats - which will be *after* peak holiday travel.

[Warpy]

6. I do that in fair weather

but it's a snack, it used to be a bottle of spring water, clean undies, and my drugs. I figure if I lose luggage, I can always get what I need where I'm going and the rest will get me through an unplanned overnight stay in the airport.

[HappyWeasel]

2. I have a flight on Friday.

I hope they will be ready then.

[KeepItReal]

5. Me too. The snow is supposed to stop tomorrow.

'Luck!!

[democracyindanger]

3. Shades of the TWA flight at Washington Int'l a few years back

Winter storm shut down the airport. The pilot didn't return to the gate, the passengers were stuck on the plane for hours, no food, no water, and the toilets eventually began overflowing.

[hlthe2b]

7. I spent 72 hours at DIA during the Halloween Blizzard of a few yrs;

back. Drove up from Ft. Collins to catch a flight to New Orleans and they shut down the airport (Pena Blvd closed too). The irony is that I had snowshoes in the car and could easily have walked out to one of the hotels along Pena, but they wouldn't let me leave. So, 72 hours of misery in DIA later....

Oh well... these things do happen.

[rockymountaindem]

8. They've closed Pena boulevard!?!??!

Are they nuts? You'd think they'd get the National Guard out there if just to keep that one road open.

[KamaAina]

9. What National Guard?

They're busy keeping the Baghdad Turnpike open! Thanks, Bush**! :grr: