Passengers aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Detroit to Atlanta found themselves stranded overnight in Knoxville, Tennessee, after weather forced a diversion that ultimately led to a cancellation.
Flight Diverted Due to Atlanta Weather
Frontier Airlines flight 3409, traveling from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), was diverted to McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville on Friday evening because of severe weather in the Atlanta area, according to officials and passenger accounts.
Nathan Hill, a passenger on the flight, contacted local news outlet 10News around 9 p.m. Friday. He said the aircraft landed in Knoxville and refueled, but the pilots and crew had reached their maximum allowable duty time — known as “timing out” — and departed, leaving passengers on the plane.
Passengers Left Without Options
Hill reported that Frontier issued vouchers for food and rental cars, but by the time passengers could use them, local shops had closed and no rental vehicles were available for the entire planeload of travelers. Passengers also hesitated to leave the secure terminal area because re-entry would require new boarding passes, and all checked luggage remained on the aircraft.
“Frontier has given us a series of excuses and vouchers, $10, $15 and $150 for us to rent a car and drive to Atlanta,” Hill said. “But there are none left for an entire flight of people who are stranded here overnight and we’re hung out to dry.”
Hill eventually reached Atlanta using a rideshare service.
“So what was supposed to be a 2 and a half hour flight turned into a 12+ hour ordeal, but I’m safe and sound and Frontier is reaching out after the fact, apologizing and offering vouchers for various reasons and future opportunities,” Hill said.
Another passenger who contacted 10News overnight Friday claimed the plane had run out of fuel and said Frontier offered small vouchers for food and rental cars, but none were available to them.
Frontier Airlines Responds
A Frontier spokesperson provided the following statement on Saturday:
“Yesterday, flight 3409 from Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL) was forced to divert to Knoxville due to weather in Atlanta, and was subsequently forced to cancel due to legal time constraints. Passengers are receiving $150 vouchers for ground transportation to their final destination, and were offered hotel vouchers upon request. We regret the inconvenience this has caused and, as a customer service gesture, are also issuing each passenger $100 Frontier vouchers for future travel.”
