Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA) nonstop Flight 53 departed Amsterdam one hour late because of de-icing delays Tuesday night. On approach to Seattle-Tacoma International airport, heavy fog forced the DC-10 to hold back and circle. However, fuel was running low, so the craft was rerouted to Grant County International Airport.

Passengers were told they couldn't get off the plane because the airport has neither the infrastructure nor personnel to conduct the kind of federal customs inspections required for international flights. Then they were told they had to wait for a new pilot and crew from Minnesota to take over for the original crew because the Federal Aviation Administration limits work time to 16 consecutive hours.

Weary passengers were then told the new crew had been delayed because their charter plane had a flat tire.

After being fed pizza and soft drinks, passengers and crew departed and arrived in Seattle, 18 hours late, the newspaper said.