Hundreds of Virgin Atlantic passengers faced delays of more than five hours collecting their luggage at Orlando International Airport after severe thunderstorms forced a suspension of ramp operations.
The disruption affected passengers arriving on flights from Edinburgh, Manchester, and Heathrow Airport on June 27. Airport officials said lightning within three miles of the airfield required the closure of aircraft ramp operations from around 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., preventing baggage handlers from unloading luggage. Staffing shortages among ground handling teams also contributed to the extended delays.
Under U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations, international passengers must collect checked baggage before exiting customs, leaving hundreds unable to leave the baggage hall while their luggage remained onboard the aircraft.
Passengers described long waits with limited seating, inconsistent information, and difficult conditions inside the customs area. Local reports also indicated one passenger required medical assistance during the delay.
Virgin Atlantic apologized for the disruption, stating that adverse weather significantly affected ground handling operations and confirming that all passengers were eventually reunited with their baggage. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority also apologized and said it is reviewing the incident with airline partners to improve future response and staffing during operational disruptions.
