Why airlines don't deboard passengers when there's delay on tarmac

Extreme fog delayed take-off forcing passengers to wait inside aircraft for five hours

It was not a pleasant first day of the year for the passengers of Jet Airways 9W-907 flight. While they boarded the Delhi-Kolkata flight on time at 10 am, the aircraft could only take off  after five hours at 3 pm. “It was a harrowing experience to wait inside the aircraft for five hours, there were children, elderly people there and since the aircraft was on the ground we were not being allowed to use the lavatory,” said Smriti Mantri, a passenger on the flight.

With the north India fog severely disrupting airline’s schedule, one of the biggest irritants for