Avelo Flight From Tweed-New Haven Delayed 11 Hours, Then Canceled

An Avelo Airlines flight from Tweed New Haven Airport to Sarasota–Bradenton, Florida, recently turned into an 11-hour ordeal for passengers. The trip ended in cancellation and raised tough questions about airline communication, crew duty rules, and passenger rights.

This incident unfolded on the ground in New Haven. It shows just how quickly winter weather, medical emergencies, and strict federal regulations can wreck travel plans for Connecticut residents from cities like New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, and New London.

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Avelo Flight From Tweed New Haven Suffers 11-Hour Delay

The flight, run by Texas-based Avelo Airlines, was supposed to depart Tweed New Haven Airport for Sarasota–Bradenton. Connecticut travelers often head there for warmer weather, but instead, passengers spent nearly half a day stuck as one problem after another piled up.

The airline said the disruption started with regional winter weather that affected operations across its system. De-icing and snow issues led to what the carrier called “cascading operational delays.”

For passengers already on board in New Haven, those cascading delays meant hour after hour of waiting. It’s a tough situation, honestly.

Weather, De-Icing, and Operational Hurdles

Avelo said winter conditions made de-icing necessary and hit flight schedules beyond Tweed. Weather slowdowns aren’t rare in Connecticut, especially for smaller airports like Tweed that have to juggle snow removal, de-icing crews, and runway use pretty carefully.

Those early delays set the tone for the rest of the day. Passenger Maryclare Roos, traveling with her 4-year-old daughter, said they boarded about an hour late and then faced a day full of shifting explanations as the timeline stretched out.

What started as a late departure just kept dragging on, and the flight never left the ground.

Passenger Experience: Shifting Explanations and Limited Breaks

Roos said that during the delay, passengers kept hearing different reasons for the holdup. For families and older travelers from places like Meriden, Bristol, and West Haven who count on Tweed for convenience, that kind of uncertainty can be especially rough.

Throughout the day, announcements pointed to all sorts of issues, from airport operations to aircraft concerns. It left people feeling like there was no clear answer.

Multiple Reported Causes: From Snow to Paperwork

Roos told reporters that passengers got a variety of explanations, including:

Snow removal on and around the runway

Required de-icing procedures

Crew and pilot changes

Paperwork and administrative issues

A reported maintenance concern with the aircraft

She said there was only one brief chance for everyone to return to the terminal together during the 11-hour wait. At other times, small groups left for bathroom breaks or to buy food, while most people stayed on board.

Avelo Disputes Passenger Account

Avelo Airlines pushed back on the idea that passengers were basically trapped. The airline said both the plane and the terminal stayed accessible, and that customers got updates throughout the day.

The carrier also insisted that passengers could deplane if they wanted to wait in the terminal at Tweed.

Medical Emergency and Crew “Time Out”

On top of the weather and operational issues, a separate medical situation on board needed immediate attention. That emergency delayed things even more and made the day even messier.

Because the plane sat on the ground so long, Avelo said the flight crew eventually hit their federally mandated duty-time limits. Federal rules set strict limits to keep crews from getting too tired. Once the crew “timed out,” Avelo said they couldn’t safely or legally operate the flight, so they had to cancel it.

Passenger Rights and Federal Rules on Tarmac Delays

The Tweed incident also shines a light on federal consumer protection rules. These rules apply to airlines across the country, including flights serving passengers from Hartford, Bridgeport, and other Connecticut communities who are turning more to low-cost carriers.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, airlines running domestic flights must let passengers deplane after three hours of tarmac delay, with only a few exceptions. They also have to provide basics like water, snacks, and restroom access.

Questions About Compensation and Accountability

Avelo hasn’t said if it gave refunds, travel credits, or any other compensation to customers on the affected flight. That leaves passengers wondering what, if anything, they’ll get after losing a full day of travel and missing out on Florida altogether.

Airport officials later called the situation unfortunate. They pointed out that modern air travel gets complicated fast, with all kinds of factors in play—weather, federal safety rules, you name it.

For Connecticut travelers, whether in New Haven, Stamford, or anywhere nearby, this whole thing is a wake-up call. It’s smart to know your rights, stay flexible during winter, and remember that even the shortest flights can go sideways for reasons you never see coming.

Here is the source article for this story: Avelo flight from Tweed New Haven delayed 11 hours before cancellation

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