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Earlier this month, travelers on a diverted American Airlines flight found themselves stranded in a foreign country for over 14 hours, receiving minimal compensation for their ordeal.

The flight, AA2421, took off from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico on August 3 as planned. However, it was rerouted to Nassau, Bahamas due to “severe weather” as explained by an American Airlines representative.

Once the plane landed in Nassau, further delays occurred due to weather conditions and required resting hours for the crew, leaving passengers waiting for nearly 14 hours at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

In a statement, American Airlines emphasized their priority on safety during unpredictable weather events and apologized for the inconvenience caused to travelers.

Among the passengers was Dimas Henriquez, who had been vacationing in Puerto Rico. He shared his experience of feeling “stranded” at the Nassau airport through a popular TikTok video. In it, he expressed, “We should be home right now. Instead, I’ve spent three hours just snacking on Lay’s chips and Biscoff cookies.”

The airline indicated that they offered food and drinks for the passengers, but Henriquez stated that this provided service started only after about five or six hours of waiting.

Henriquez revealed that passengers received little information during the extended wait. “We kept hearing that a plane was being deboarded to bring in a new crew to help us,” he recounted. “That was the update for the entire 14 hours.”

Finally, at 10:24 a.m. the following day, the flight departed for Miami. However, by that time, Henriquez and his fellow travelers had already missed their connecting flight. Upon reaching Miami, they learned that the next flight to North Carolina wouldn’t be available for two days, and he claimed the airline denied them any hotel vouchers. Not wanting to spend for two nights in a Miami hotel, Henriquez and his group opted to rent a car and drove the long 13-hour trip home.

Later, Henriquez requested a refund for his plane ticket online, only to receive $124.60—less than the cost of the car rental and the original ticket. “I believe I was only refunded for the missed connection in Miami,” he noted.

Henriquez has since filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation and is now awaiting a response.

“I wish someone from American Airlines had reassured us that everything would be okay and that we would receive compensation and a prompt return home,” he reflected. “Instead, we were all just left in limbo for 14 hours in a foreign country.”

Currently, there are no federal regulations requiring airlines to compensate passengers for delayed flights. Airlines voluntarily provide various levels of compensation for major delays that they can control, but weather-related disruptions are generally considered beyond their control.

Purchasing travel insurance can help mitigate costs associated with certain cancellations and delays.

Additionally, some credit card providers offer coverage for unanticipated travel expenses tied to flight interruptions if the tickets were booked using their card.