Glitch Snarls LAX Travel For 20,000

Food dwindled, water disappeared, three passengers hospitalized in airport hell
By Sophie Goldstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 12, 2007 10:05 AM CDT
Glitch Snarls LAX Travel For 20,000
Travelers wait in line for security screening at Los Angeles International Airport after a computer failure by customs and border protection left about 6,000 passengers stranded on airplanes and in terminals on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007. The passengers were stranded in four airport terminals and in 24...   (Associated Press)

A malfunction in the U.S. Customs system at Los Angeles Airport yesterday delayed travel for more than 20,000 people, some for as long as 14 hours, the Los Angeles Times reports. The glitch Saturday afternoon triggered delays so long that food supplies dwindled and water ran out for hours, causing dehydration among some passengers. Three had to be rushed to a hospital.

One family waited seven hours on the tarmac to leave a plane to make their connecting flight, which they missed. They finally received formula for their 6-month-old baby when the pilot radioed for emergency help. "This was crazy," said the father.  At one point Saturday night 8,000 passengers were waiting on planes. (More LAX stories.)

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