Another Reason to Fly Private: You Won’t Have to Wing–walk to Get Fresh Air

A tarmac incident at Mexico City International Airport gave fresh meaning to “a wing and a prayer.”

Last week, an AeroMexico airplane bound for Guatemala City was delayed on the ground for more than three hours, without air conditioning or water for the increasingly uncomfortable passengers. Eventually, one man took matters into his own hands—and feet—pulling open an emergency exit door and taking a stroll onto the aircraft’s wing.

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The unnamed man returned to the cabin and was taken into custody, but he won the praise of the flight’s other passengers, several of whom felt their health and safety were at risk: at least 77 passengers signed a handwritten letter in support of his actions. The dramatic gesture did the job; the airplane was emptied and changed out after a delay of nearly five hours.

In the U.S., federal law prohibits airlines from allowing their aircraft to sit on the tarmac for more than three hours without giving passengers the option to deplane. In the largest penalty of its kind, the Department of Transportation fined American Airlines $4.1 million for violating the statute in 2023. But that’s cold comfort for travelers from other countries, and three hours can feel like an eternity, especially without proper ventilation, food, or water.

The incident is just another example of the hassles of commercial flying.

“In addition to safety issues, incidents like this cause delays and cancelations, and it again underscores the benefits of flying privately,” says Doug Gollan, founder and president of Private Jet Card Comparisons. “All of aviation is subject to delays—whether mechanical, weather-related, or due to air traffic control issues. However, the nice thing with private aviation is that in most situations, you are going to be able to wait out the delays in the comfort of an FBO, some of which are very nice, and not stuck on a taxiway.”

Adds Jordan Brown, CEO of Jet Agency: “This would never happen, because outside of FAA rules, the passengers are in control of the experience.”