Plane with ICE Detainees Stuck on Tarmac for Over 12 Hours

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A plane carrying more than 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees was stuck on the tarmac at Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire for over 12 hours on Monday due to a nor'easter storm. The plane had originally taken off from Harlingen, Texas on Sunday night and landed in Portsmouth around 1 a.m. Monday to refuel before continuing its overseas journey.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the challenges faced by immigration authorities when transporting detainees, especially during severe weather events. It also raises questions about the coordination and communication between airports, airlines, and government agencies when unplanned diversions occur.

The details

Airport officials said they only learned the flight would land there 15 minutes before it arrived. The plane was stuck because of the high winds during the storm, which caused a blizzard in the area. After over 12 hours on the tarmac, the detainees were eventually taken off the plane and given food in the terminal before the flight was able to depart around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

• The plane took off from Harlingen, Texas on Sunday night.
• The plane landed at Portsmouth International Airport around 1 a.m. on Monday.
• The plane was stuck on the tarmac for over 12 hours on Monday.
• The plane eventually took off from Portsmouth around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

What’s next

The final destination of the flight after it departed Portsmouth is unknown, but flight tracking data shows it began traveling over the Atlantic Ocean.