The United States has been dealing with extreme winter weather, with icy conditions recently extending into parts of the South.
While Chicago is accustomed to severe winter conditions, some travelers say recent weather has led to unusually disruptive air travel experiences. One such situation was documented by a TikTok creator who shared what unfolded from inside a delayed flight.
Ashley (@aeggerswi) posted a short video showing her husband walking their baby up and down the aisle as the sound of crying infants filled the cabin. The clip has received more than 2.3 million views.
“United Airlines has a plane full of people, including many children, that left Orlando at 12:30 p.m. that was supposed to be a 2.5-hour flight,” Ashley wrote in the caption. “It’s 8 hours later and they haven’t let us off the plane yet.”
She explained that the plane circled for about an hour due to weather conditions in Chicago before being diverted to Grand Rapids, where passengers remained on the tarmac for several more hours. Ashley said they were later told they would be allowed to deplane, but there was no food available and still no clear plan.
“What a joke,” she wrote.
Commenters react to the situation
Many commenters criticized United Airlines, saying the situation sounded stressful and poorly managed. Others shared similar travel experiences.
“That should be illegal,” one commenter wrote. “Shame on United Airlines.”
Another said their father was on the same flight and did not get home until 6 a.m. the following day, adding that the passengers deserved better.
Others defended the airline, pointing out that weather-related delays are unavoidable and that safety must come first.
Ashley responded by saying most passengers understood the weather delays but took issue with how the situation was handled afterward. She said passengers were left waiting on the tarmac for hours and were later told the pilots had run out of allowable duty time, something she believed could have been anticipated.
She added that the pilots reportedly felt capable of completing the flight, but the Federal Aviation Administration shut it down shortly before departure.
Ashley later shared a timeline of the ordeal, stating passengers boarded at 11:45 a.m. and did not arrive back in Orlando until the early morning hours of the next day.
Weather-related disruptions in Chicago
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a ground stop was in place Friday afternoon because of snow and ice. Temperatures were reported to be around 17 degrees, with lake-effect snow moving into the area.
Those conditions may explain the delays described by Ashley, as flights are restricted from taking off or landing during a ground stop.
A Reddit user who identified as an airline employee also warned travelers flying out of Orlando that weekend to expect delays due to dropping temperatures. Other commenters confirmed the disruptions, with one saying their flight through Orlando International Airport had been canceled.
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