Getting stranded on airport tarmac for eight hours without access to working bathrooms, food or water sounds like inhumane treatment to me, but that’s exactly what a group of passengers on American Airlines’ flights 1348, 534 and 1008 say happened to them when storms prevented them from flying their scheduled San Francisco to Dallas flights and landed them in Austin, TX instead.

The coalition is lobbying Congress for a Passengers Bill of Rights that would protect travelers against unreasonably long delays that result in their entrapment aboard aircraft.

At a bare minimum, airlines should absolutely supply passengers with bathroom access and fresh water during situations like this. It borders on absurdity to keep passengers sitting in a plane for an eight-hour stretch. Not only is it uncomfortable for everyone involved, it’s unhealthy and could become life-threatening for elderly travelers and those with medical conditions.

Passengers Stranded on American Flights Push for Passengers Bill of Rights