How is it possible to keep passengers trapped in an aircraft on the tarmac at an airport for numerous hours? Most recently there was the Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Newark, diverted to Hartford's Bradley International Airport due to bad weather at Newark. The passengers were trapped for nearly 4 hours on board the aircraft because no one could figure out how to clear these passengers through Customs since the flight was not expected at Bradley.

Where was the Contingency Plan? What? NO Contingency Plan? Who's in charge here? Don't Airports and Airlines have emergency personnel standing by (perhaps not on duty) that can be called in for events like this? WHY NOT? Suppose passengers became ill as a result of bad food. Would they have to wait 4 hours after landing to find the Customs Agent? No, I am not suggesting additional payrolls for the airports and airlines. Just designate existing personnel to be on call like doctors at hospitals for events like this.

Look folks! This is a no brainer. Unload the passengers, heard them into a secure room where there are rest rooms and water can be brought in until the proper Customs Officers can show up. If this is a Customs issue, let's get it fixed. This is not the first time and it won't be the last time a situation like this will take place.