Passenger tells of 25-hour ordeal returning to US from Mexico vacation

In a harrowing travel saga, two Delta Air Lines flights from Mexico were diverted to Montgomery, Alabama, due to bad weather, leading to over 300 passengers experiencing extreme delays. Both flights were headed to Boston, but instead landed around 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, only to find themselves trapped on the tarmac for hours due to a lack of Customs and Border Protection staff. Reports indicate that passengers had to endure nearly seven hours on the plane with only cookies and water before being allowed to disembark in groups. The ordeal was exacerbated by the need for a new crew and pilot after the initial team exceeded their permissible working hours. Passenger accounts, like those from Lauren Forbes and Alex Alvarez, highlight the exhaustion and frustration felt as incidents piled up during their travel back home. Delta's response, including an apology and promises for refunds, does little to alleviate the distress caused during what should have been a straightforward return from vacation. While Delta cited severe weather as a complicating factor, the situation speaks to deeper issues within both airline operations and airport infrastructure in handling international flights. Concerns raised by passengers about improved protocols indicate the likelihood that this event could spur further discussions over operational capacity and response in times of crisis. Delta's commitment to reviewing the incident suggests a recognition of these issues, but the lack of immediate and adequate staffing at Montgomery Airport raises systemic questions regarding readiness and customer care in the aviation industry. The frustrations expressed by passengers point not just to an incident but potentially to a call for broader changes in airline operations and airport preparedness in adverse weather conditions.