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A plane with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees on board took off from Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in New Hampshire Tuesday morning after more than 24 hours at the airport.The plane, which was carrying more than 100 ICE detainees, was stuck on the tarmac for more than 12 hours.The plane originally took off from Harlingen, Texas, on Sunday night, and landed at the airport at Pease around 1 a.m. Monday as a nor’easter moved through the region. The plane was scheduled to land to refuel before heading overseas.Airport officials said they only learned the flight would land there 15 minutes before it arrived. Officials said if they had known, they would have encouraged the pilot to land somewhere with better conditions.In a statement shared by Port City Air, the refueling company said, “It is our legal obligation to safely service any flights into or out of the airport.” Port City Air added that ICE flight decisions are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.The plane was stuck because of the high winds during the storm, sources told News 9 Investigates. Portsmouth was one of two New Hampshire cities Monday to have experienced a confirmed blizzard, which means there were at least three consecutive hours of frequent 35-mph wind gusts and visibility at less than a quarter of a mile.After 2:45 p.m., the airport’s terminal was closed to the public, the plane was towed and detainees were taken off the plane, sources said. The detainees were given food on the plane and inside the terminal, they said.The airport said it worked with Homeland Security and other appropriate agencies to provide space inside the terminal. Sources said there were no incidents while the detainees were in the terminal.The plane eventually took off from the airport at Pease around 8 a.m. Tuesday. It was unable to depart earlier because its flight crew timed out. Its final destination is not known, but flight tracking data shows it began traveling over the Atlantic Ocean after lifting off from Portsmouth.A few people gathered outside the airport to protest the flight. Portsmouth police said there were no arrests made.
A plane with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees on board took off from Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in New Hampshire Tuesday morning after more than 24 hours at the airport.
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The plane, which was carrying more than 100 ICE detainees, was stuck on the tarmac for more than 12 hours.
The plane originally took off from Harlingen, Texas, on Sunday night, and landed at the airport at Pease around 1 a.m. Monday as a nor’easter moved through the region. The plane was scheduled to land to refuel before heading overseas.
Airport officials said they only learned the flight would land there 15 minutes before it arrived. Officials said if they had known, they would have encouraged the pilot to land somewhere with better conditions.
In a statement shared by Port City Air, the refueling company said, “It is our legal obligation to safely service any flights into or out of the airport.” Port City Air added that ICE flight decisions are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The plane was stuck because of the high winds during the storm, sources told News 9 Investigates. Portsmouth was one of two New Hampshire cities Monday to have experienced a confirmed blizzard, which means there were at least three consecutive hours of frequent 35-mph wind gusts and visibility at less than a quarter of a mile.
After 2:45 p.m., the airport’s terminal was closed to the public, the plane was towed and detainees were taken off the plane, sources said. The detainees were given food on the plane and inside the terminal, they said.
The airport said it worked with Homeland Security and other appropriate agencies to provide space inside the terminal. Sources said there were no incidents while the detainees were in the terminal.
The plane eventually took off from the airport at Pease around 8 a.m. Tuesday. It was unable to depart earlier because its flight crew timed out. Its final destination is not known, but flight tracking data shows it began traveling over the Atlantic Ocean after lifting off from Portsmouth.
A few people gathered outside the airport to protest the flight. Portsmouth police said there were no arrests made.
