San Francisco

Upset Passengers Detained After Aeromexico Plane Diverted to Oakland: Sheriff

Two passengers on an Aeromexico flight were detained Thursday and others called 911 to say they were being held against their will as the plane sat for hours on the tarmac at Oakland International Airport, officials said.

Flight 622 from Guadalajara was scheduled to land at San Francisco International Airport but was diverted due to fog and landed at Oakland at about 10:30 a.m., airport spokeswoman Keonnis Taylor said.

The plane was stuck on the tarmac in Oakland for at least four hours and Aeromexico staff onboard the "sweltering" plane did not offer any food or water, passenger Jazmin Eunice Sarabia said.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said another person during the incident requested medical assistance for breathing difficulty. Some called 911 to report they were being held against their will, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's Office officials said the plane was eventually moved to Gate 1 at Oakland International Airport, where passengers were able to get off.

A spokesperson for Oakland International Airport said the plane for stuck for three hours. Passengers were then cleared to leave after going through the customs screening process in Oakland, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's units also responded to reports of an unruly passenger who was threatening to open the emergency door exit as the flight crew tried to stop him, Sgt. Ray Kelly said.

That man and another passenger were detained for interfering with an aircraft and flight crew but after talking to the men, they were allowed to leave without being arrested, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Oakland airport said in a statement that it is an airline's decision whether to await clearance to return to the original destination or let passengers deplane at the diversion airport.

Aeromexico said in a statement that it has no Oakland operations and needed special authorization from airport authorities to disembark passengers

Isaura Ochoa and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright The Associated Press
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