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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.
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.