Second report of stranded U.S. fliers

NEW YORK, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- News of two more U.S. airlines abandoning passengers at airports because of bad weather in Denver earlier this month emerged Wednesday in a USA Today report.

The newspaper reported Tuesday how two United Express jets diverted to Cheyenne, Wyo., on Dec. 20 and then took off the next day empty to service other routes.

The story prompted a call from St. Louis business traveler Fran Van Hoogstraat, who said she and about 100 other passengers on two flights were stranded in Scottsbluff, Neb., on Feb. 8 in similar circumstances.

Darwin Skelton, airport manager at Scottsbluff, told USA Today crews of United Express and American Connection flights to Denver left the passengers some six hours after landing because of fog in Denver.

United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy apologized "for not communicating soon enough to our customers," while American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said it wasn't American's responsibility but rather sub-contractor Trans States Airlines, which is based in St. Louis.