Originally Posted by
donjc451
It never got to the point where passengers were threatening to pull the slides but at what point does it become a case of false imprisonment, not to be overly dramatic, 12 hours...18 hours.They ran out of food and water at 2:30 and as late as 9PM they still had no definitive time on when we would get off or did they mention they would get us food or water, I had not eaten since 8AM that morning other than a biscoff. I think there does become a point where you could make a legal argument that the airline was being negligent and you took matters into your own, ie pulled the slide.
There are indeed penalties for stranding passengers on the tarmac for extended periods.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...hts-33011.html
Not surprisingly, there are exceptions to these requirements. Most notably, the three-hour deplaning rule won't be enforced when passenger safety and security are at risk, or if the plane's return to the gate would cause a major disruption of airport operations.
The qualifier is that ATL airport was without power, so safety/security risk could likely be invoked by Delta. You should probably contact the airline and the FAA anyways to document it.
Originally Posted by
jdrtravel
Of course there is a point where this happens. And yes, it would be a violation of FAA regulations and of course it would cost the airline money to activate the slide. However, I have to believe that at some point pax and crew would together agree to screw the airline and the FAA and exit the metal tube. At some point your human needs become more important. I don't know what that point is but I guarantee you it exists, and for me personally 8 hours would certainly be pushing it.
(bolding mine)
If the crew agrees to open the door and use the emergency slide, then the passengers wouldn't be in violation of FAA regulations at all.