MIDLAND, Texas, May 7 (UPI) -- A spring storm produced an eight-hour delay for passengers aboard an American Airlines jet stranded on the tarmac in Midland, Texas, last month.
Because of bad weather in the Dallas area, 200 passengers found themselves hungry and thirsty as snacks ran out and drinking water got scarce, USA Today reports.
One of the passengers aboard Flight 556 from Phoenix to Dallas equated her experience with being held prisoner.
"I felt like I was hijacked or kidnapped because I couldn't get off the plane," says Dixie Lee Belmont, 65, of Sun City, Ariz.
Mike Cunningham, 30, of Scottsdale, Ariz., said communication was lacking.
"After sitting there for awhile, it got pretty annoying," he said. "I think the biggest issue was it wasn't really communicated to us what was going on."
Details of the Flight 556 ordeal comes as Congress is debating a passenger bill of rights that would prohibit long delays on the ground and require airlines to provide for passengers' needs.
