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Glitch Snarls LAX Travel For 20,000

Food dwindled, water disappeared, three passengers hospitalized in airport hell

By Sophie Goldstein,  Newser User

Posted Aug 12, 2007 10:05 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A malfunction in the U.S. Customs system at Los Angeles Airport yesterday delayed travel for more than 20,000 people, some for as long as 14 hours, the Los Angeles Times reports. The glitch Saturday afternoon triggered delays so long that food supplies dwindled and water ran out for hours, causing dehydration among some passengers. Three had to be rushed to a hospital.

One family waited seven hours on the tarmac to leave a plane to make their connecting flight, which they missed. They finally received formula for their 6-month-old baby when the pilot radioed for emergency help. "This was crazy," said the father.  At one point Saturday night 8,000 passengers were waiting on planes.

Travelers wait in line for security screening at Los Angeles International Airport after a computer failure by customs and border protection left about 6,000 passengers stranded on airplanes and in terminals on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007. The passengers were stranded in four airport terminals and in 24 planes starting...
Travelers wait in line for security screening at Los Angeles International Airport after a computer failure by customs and border protection left about 6,000 passengers stranded on airplanes and in terminals...   (Associated Press)
An Air New Zealand boeing 747 sits on the tarmac at Los Angeles Internation Airport Saturday Aug. 11, 2007. About 6,000 international passengers were stranded for as long as six hours Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport because a computer failure prevented them from passing through customs, authorities said....
An Air New Zealand boeing 747 sits on the tarmac at Los Angeles Internation Airport Saturday Aug. 11, 2007. About 6,000 international passengers were stranded for as long as six hours Saturday at Los...   (Associated Press)
Salvador Guerrero waits for his wife to exit customs at Los Angeles International Airport after a computer failure by customs and border protection left about 6,000 passengers stranded on airplanes and in terminals on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007. The passengers were stranded in four airport terminals and in 24...
Salvador Guerrero waits for his wife to exit customs at Los Angeles International Airport after a computer failure by customs and border protection left about 6,000 passengers stranded on airplanes and...   (Associated Press)
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Travel • flight • Los Angeles • airport • LAX • delay • Los Angeles International Airport

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