Travelers, including Kiwis trying to get home, were stranded at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday, 11 January 2025, after a snowstorm. Video / Carina Fischer
One flight home from the United States for a plane-load of Kiwis turned into “a nightmare” after it was cancelled and delayed, with passengers left to fend for themselves in the terminal without their baggage, medication or food for days.
“It’s been the longest six days of my life,” passenger Samantha Rhulman, of Wellington, told the Herald.
Several passengers spoke to the Herald from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas about 1am Saturday (US time), describing hungry children crying in the terminal and travellers stressed about meeting connecting flights.
The flight, American Airlines 55, was due to leave the US on Wednesday, but after several false starts, the passengers were still waiting in the terminal on Saturday morning. Passengers were not able to access their luggage to take medication or change their clothes.
And when passengers boarded the flight on Friday thinking they were finally going to return home, they spent an hour sitting on the tarmac before being made to disembark.
Still image taken from video of stranded passengers waiting for help in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, United States, on Saturday, 11 January, 2025. Photo / Carina Fischer
“Everyone went crazy in the plane. It was bonkers. Everyone was yelling, and at the end, the pilot made the announcement and everyone started chanting ‘new crew, new crew’,” Ruhlman.
“I have to go to work. I’m obviously not going to be able to work on Monday. I was supposed to arrive in Auckland on Friday morning,” Ruhlman said.
Carina Fischer, of Remuera, described the scene in the terminal as “a nightmare”.
Fischer said: “Everyone is crying. Kids are screaming.”
She said a relative had helped her buy a hotel room, but she had been washing her clothes in the sink and drying them with a hairdryer.
She was also worried about her child who has ADHD, saying he was without his medication as well.
She claimed American Airlines was “not helpful, not helpful at all”.
Ruhlman echoed that sentiment: “They literally don’t care that they ruined people’s holidays and so many plans - and sanity.”
She said a group of passengers were planning to write to the airline’s chief executive asking for compensation.
“I’m so tired and still in my same clothes as Wednesday. It’s Monday ...”
American Airlines was approached for comment on Saturday, but had yet to respond by Monday morning.
The flight, American Airlines 55, was due to leave the US on Wednesday, but after several false starts, the passengers were still waiting in the terminal on Saturday morning. Photo / Carina Fischer
Another passenger, Sarah Botwright was due to be in New Zealand for a holiday to see her friend, said she had to be home in Ohio and she would likely have to cancel her whole trip to Godzone.
“My luggage will be going to New Zealand regardless of whether I go or not, though,” she said.
Local daily paper the Dallas Morning News reported more than 600 flights to and from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field had been cancelled as of 5pm Friday (12pm, Saturday, NZ).
More than 800 flights were also delayed. American Airlines flights were the most impacted by the delays, the Dallas Morning News said.
The paper said the delays were due to a snowstorm in North Texas on Thursday which left a dumping of snow and icy conditions.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
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