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ICE plane taking off from Mesa Gateway Airport returns due to faulty AC unit

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Updated  September 25, 2024 9:22pm MST
Air and Space
FOX 10 Phoenix

US immigration flight from Mesa grounded by heat

Eleven people were hospitalized for heat-related illnesses after a US immigration flight departing from Mesa was turned around shortly after departure when it lost air conditioning.

The Brief

    • 11 people became ill on an ICE plane that took off from Mesa Gateway Airport, forcing the plane to turn around.
    • The plane was bound for Louisiana.

PHOENIX - A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plane that took off from Mesa Gateway Airport had to turn around after the air conditioner on the plane was experiencing issues.

Eleven passengers experienced heat-related illness and were transported to a local hospital.

Flight path of ICE plane that was forced to turn around after a malfunctioning AC unit. (FlightRadar24.com screenshot)

According to Mesa Gateway Communications Director Ryan Smith, the flight was bound for Alexandria Airport in Louisiana.

Smith said that the flight operator, Global X, has a base at the airport in Mesa and operates multiple flights per week to various destinations.

The Source

  • Mesa Fire Department and Gateway Aiport officials provided information for this story.