Scenes inside the plane that was grounded nine hours

One woman screamed she might have a heart attack. Another panic-stricken woman clamored for her medicine. The bathroom could not be serviced for nearly six hours and at one point, drinking water was at a premium.

It all happened within the confines of a TACA International Airlines flight from El Salvdor that sat on the tarmac at Ontario International Airport for nearly nine hours Monday, as officials tried to sort out protocol in the wee hours of the morning.

Dense fog had forced Flight 670, en route to Los Angeles International Airport, to be diverted to the Ontario airport about midnight Sunday, where it remained until mid-morning on Monday.

Read the Times' full story about the diverted airplane.

--James Wagner

Comments

[Panic disorders]

The management of panic attacks can be tricky due to several reasons. Continued reliance on drugs will reverse any positive gains.

[Just facts]

Not having enough water and even beverages like seltzer on board is often a huge issue on planes these days, now that passengers can't bring their own bottled water as I used to. I'm often thirsty even on "normal" flights and as someone who is prone to panic attacks in closed-in spaces when I can't breathe well (another problem on that plane and others when you're stuck on a runway to long) this is a serious medical issue.

The woman suffering from high blood pressure who was on tv (allegedly finally checked by a medic who came on board), the heart attack woman, and everyone else who was forced to use the toilet in disgusting conditions over an amazing 9 hours are just the most extreme victims of our new airline policies, which justify any sort of passenger abuse under "terrorism act." I wouldn't want to see potential terrorists getting off planes and wandering into terminals, but George Bush and Cheney and the rest would never tolerate this for a minute for their families, and we shouldn't either. IIt's bad enough we all incl. women are publicly patted down barefoot on filthy floors like criminals.

The airline or FAA, someone, must ensure that passengers have access to plenty of water, air, clean toilets -- which animal rights activists would be demanding for their pets -- in case of snafus. People suffering health issues or panic attacks or who can't breathe should be allowed to deplane after a computer check of their passports or domestic ID's. Their luggage can arrive later with the others. That doesn't seem too hard to manage.