Delta Air Lines has caused a stir online after canceling a flight from Florida, citing ‘ice on the runway’ even as temperatures approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The unusual circumstance unfolded when a woman traveling from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York was informed that her flight had been delayed by an entire day.
She then reached out to the airline to ask about getting a reimbursement for her hotel room that night.
But her request was denied because the cancelation was ‘weather related,’ according to a Reddit post shared by the flier’s cousin on Sunday.
A Delta representative explained to the upset passenger that the flight was canceled ‘due to a deicing situation, indicating that the runway was too slippery’ for departure, according to a message exchange shared in the post.
This ‘deicing situation’ was pertaining to the runway in Orlando – where the heat was scorching.
‘The runway was covered in ice,’ the agent continued. ‘This is for safety purposes, and our top priority is the safety of our passengers.’
In response to the icy runway claim, the customer said: ‘It is 95 degrees in Orlando and 84 degrees in New York City.’
Delta Airlines has sparked an internet uproar after allegedly canceling a flight from Florida due to ice on the runway as temperatures neared 100 degrees outside (stock image)
The bizarre situation emerged when a woman headed from Orlando International Airport (pictured) was alerted her flight had been pushed back an entire day
Her request was denied because the cancelation was ‘weather related,’ according to a Reddit post shared by the flier’s cousin on Sunday
It is unclear what the airline representative wrote back to defend their offbeat argument.
‘It was hot but there wasn’t any rain in Orlando or NYC, her destination,’ the Redditor reiterated in the caption. ‘They said it was because of the ice. Huh?’
The debacle caught the attention of thousands of people, many who were just as confused and outraged as the woman and her cousin.
‘I would be on a literal warpath with Delta until the end of time if they tried to tell me they canceled my flight to/from Florida because of pretend ice in 100 degree weather,’ one person asserted.
‘Can confirm no ice anywhere on the ground in Orlando,’ a Floridan added.
‘That’s insane for a lot of reasons, but primarily bc if there are weather delays the airline isn’t responsible for reimbursing you, so they’re LITERALLY committing fraud,’ someone chimed in.
According to AirAdvisor, airlines in the US do not have to financially help their passengers when a flight gets canceled because of the weather.
They are only required to either rebook the flight or provide a full ticket refund.
The Reddit post included an exchange between a Delta agent and the baffled customer
The debacle caught the attention of thousands of people, many who were just as confused and outraged as the woman and her cousin
Someone claiming to be an airport employee urged the poster to file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.
Another commenter claimed they had experienced something similar: ‘I was told the same thing Leaving the Bahamas.
‘I asked them where the f**k the snow had been hiding in the 90 degree weather in Nassau ?!’
Someone did come to the airline’s defense, writing: ‘Orlando resident here. We frequently have hail storms that are heavy and look like snow sometimes.
‘I just checked and they did a ground stop from 3:45 – 4:45 for thunderstorms.’
But another clapped back: ‘Yes but the canceled her flight until tomorrow. That shouldn’t happen with a thunderstorm.’
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a Delta spokesperson wrote: ‘We’re in touch with the customer to make this right and are addressing this with our messaging team.’
