Summary
- Delta Flight 5062 from the Bahamas to Atlanta was diverted to Savannah resulting from bad weather
- Passengers were left on the tarmac for over 4 hours without food, water, or access to bathrooms.
- The dearth of customs officers prevented passengers from leaving the aircraft.
On August 12, a Delta Air Lines flight from the Bahamas to Atlanta, Georgia, was diverted to Savannah, Georgia, resulting from inclement weather. The diversion left passengers stuck on the tarmac for 4 hours without food, water, or access to the bathrooms. Troubled passengers had to attend it out within the airplane resulting from the shortage of customs personnel on the airport.
Delta Flight 5062
On Saturday, August 12, Delta Flight 5062 took off from North Eleuthera, Bahamas, at 15:15 hours local time, certain for Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL) in Georgia. Bad weather conditions near the destination forced the pilots to perform a diversion into the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) in Savannah, Georgia.
The flight crew was unauthorized to let passengers out for over 4 hours resulting from the shortage of customs officers on the terminal. There have been two other Delta flights originally scheduled for ATL also diverted to Savannah. A Delta spokesperson said in a press release to the WJCL 22 News,
Flight 5062 from Eleuthera, Bahamas, to Atlanta diverted to Savannah resulting from inclement weather. Limited accessibility of airport customs agents resulted within the flight crew not being authorized to permit customers to exit the aircraft for an prolonged time period. Delta apologizes for the inconvenience to our customers, and we’re reviewing the circumstances that led to the unlucky cabin experience.
Photo: Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock
One other Delta spokesperson said that there have been only two customs staff on the airport in Savannah, and other Delta flights were also diverted to the southeastern Georgia airport.
Traumatic passenger experience
A passenger on Flight 5062, Lizzy Phillips, told WJCL that the plane was on the tarmac in Savannah for 4 hours without access to water, food, or bathrooms.
It was just imagined to be a fast hour and a half flight, so that you don’t bring numerous food and further provisions. – Phillips.
The diverted flight landed in Savannah at 18:09 hours. The onboard passengers were left with none provisions for nearly three hours when the flight crew announced the distribution of snacks and beverages. Around 21:00 hours, flight attendants handed snacks and refreshments to the passengers. Phillips further stated that,
One operating bathroom ended up overflowing and went out of service at around 8:45 p.m. Phillips also said her child used the toilet in a bag in a galley area of the plane. She opened up the door and said oh my god, the bathroom is overflowing.